Algorithm Accountability Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/6266

Last Updated: November 24, 2025

Algorithm Accountability Act

HR. 6266, 119th Congress — read as touching Big Tech Platforms.

The sponsor

Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$157,510 raised

20 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

85% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Federal Communications Commission" section, p. 882-884 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

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Committee Review

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Floor Action

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Passed Senate

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House Review

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Passed Congress

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Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Summary Style:

**Analysis and Summary of HR 6266: Algorithm Accountability Act**

As a visionary entrepreneur and thought leader, I'll dissect this bill through the lens of its potential impact on my empire's wealth, influence, and control.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Algorithm Accountability Act aims to amend Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, limiting liability protection for social media platforms that fail to exercise "reasonable care" in designing and deploying recommendation-based algorithms. The bill's proponents claim it will promote accountability and transparency in algorithmic decision-making.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill introduces a new subsection (f) to Section 230, which:

1. Imposes a duty of care on social media platforms to prevent bodily injury or death resulting from their algorithms. 2. Creates an exception for chronological sorting and individual search results. 3. Allows private right of action for damages in cases where the platform's algorithm causes harm. 4. Invalidates predispute arbitration agreements and waivers.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** This bill primarily targets social media platforms, but its implications will ripple throughout the tech industry. Affected parties include:

1. Social media giants (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) 2. Algorithmic decision-making companies 3. Online content creators and publishers 4. Advertisers and marketers relying on targeted advertising

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill poses a significant threat to my empire's interests. By imposing liability for algorithmic decisions, it will:

1. Increase regulatory burdens and compliance costs for social media platforms. 2. Stifle innovation in AI-driven decision-making, as companies may become more risk-averse. 3. Create new opportunities for frivolous lawsuits and extortionate settlements. 4. Disrupt the online advertising ecosystem, potentially reducing revenue streams.

As a visionary entrepreneur, I must consider the long-term implications of this bill. It's essential to lobby against these draconian measures, which will only serve to stifle innovation and hinder my empire's growth. By supporting think tanks like the Cato Institute and the Heritage Foundation, we can promote a more laissez-faire approach to regulation, allowing the free market to dictate the course of technological progress.

**Projected Impact on My Empire:** Conservative estimates suggest that this bill could result in:

* A 10% reduction in online advertising revenue * A 5% increase in regulatory compliance costs * A 3% decrease in algorithmic innovation and development

These projections are based on my team's analysis of similar regulations in the EU and their impact on the tech industry. It's essential to take proactive measures to mitigate these risks and ensure that my empire remains at the forefront of technological innovation.

In conclusion, HR 6266 poses a significant threat to my empire's interests and must be vigorously opposed. By supporting deregulation and promoting a more libertarian approach to governance, we can create an environment conducive to innovation and growth.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (billionaire personality)

The Algorithm Accountability Act - just another cleverly crafted piece of legislation designed to control the narrative and stifle free speech, if you ask me. Let's break it down.

**Main Purpose & Objectives**

On the surface, this bill aims to hold social media platforms accountable for their algorithmic design choices that may lead to bodily harm or death. Sounds noble enough, right? But scratch beneath the surface, and I believe it's a thinly veiled attempt to regulate online discourse and impose government oversight on private companies.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**

The bill amends Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, which currently shields social media platforms from liability for user-generated content. The new provision would require platforms to exercise "reasonable care" in designing algorithms that prevent harm or death. Sounds reasonable, but what does it really mean? It's a slippery slope towards government control over online content.

The bill also introduces a private right of action for individuals who claim harm due to algorithmic design flaws. This could lead to a flood of frivolous lawsuits and create a chilling effect on free speech.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**

Social media platforms, of course, are the primary targets. But think about it - this bill also affects users, content creators, and even advertisers who rely on these platforms for their livelihoods. It's a classic case of "regulatory capture," where the government uses legislation to exert control over private industries.

**Potential Impact & Implications**

If passed, this bill could have far-reaching consequences:

* Social media platforms may become more cautious in their content moderation, potentially stifling free speech and creativity. * The government could use this legislation as a pretext to regulate online discourse, suppressing dissenting voices and alternative viewpoints. * The private right of action provision could lead to a surge in lawsuits, driving up costs for social media companies and potentially forcing them to self-censor.

But here's the thing: I think there's more to this bill than meets the eye. What if it's not just about regulating algorithms, but also about creating a backdoor for government surveillance and control? Think about it - with this legislation, the government could gain access to sensitive information about social media users, their preferences, and their online behavior.

Wake up, folks! This bill is just another example of how our government is slowly eroding our freedoms, one piece of legislation at a time.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (conspiracy_uncle personality)

(Outraged tone) Folks, we've got another doozy of a bill on our hands, courtesy of the liberal elites in Congress. The Algorithm Accountability Act, HR 6266, is a thinly veiled attempt to strangle free speech and stifle innovation under the guise of "protecting" users from those evil social media algorithms.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** This bill aims to amend Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, which has been a cornerstone of internet freedom. The alleged purpose is to hold social media platforms accountable for their algorithmic design, but let's be real – it's just a power grab by the government to control online discourse.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill introduces a "duty of care" requirement for social media platforms, forcing them to exercise "reasonable care" in designing and deploying algorithms that might cause bodily harm or death. (Sarcastic tone) Oh, because we all know how often social media algorithms lead to physical violence... Give me a break.

The bill also creates a private right of action for individuals who claim to have been harmed by these algorithms, allowing them to sue platforms for compensatory and punitive damages. This is just a recipe for frivolous lawsuits and censorship by proxy.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Social media platforms, online content creators, and users themselves will all be impacted by this bill. But let's not forget the real stakeholders here – the liberal elites who want to control the narrative and silence dissenting voices.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill has far-reaching implications for free speech, innovation, and the very fabric of the internet. By imposing liability on social media platforms for their algorithms, we're essentially creating a chilling effect that will stifle online discourse and creativity. (Smirking) But hey, who needs freedom of expression when you've got government-approved algorithms, right?

In all seriousness, folks, this bill is a Trojan horse for censorship and government overreach. We need to be vigilant and protect our online freedoms from these liberal elites who think they know better than us. Stay woke, America!

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (fox_host personality)

(sigh) Oh joy, another bill from our esteemed Congress, because clearly, they have nothing better to do than try to "regulate" the internet... again.

**Main Purpose & Objectives**

The Algorithm Accountability Act (HR 6266) claims to aim at holding social media platforms accountable for their algorithms that allegedly cause harm to users. Yeah, right. The real purpose is to give politicians a chance to grandstand about "protecting" people from the evil internet while actually doing nothing meaningful.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**

The bill amends Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 (because who needs an update for a law written almost a century ago?) to limit liability protection for social media platforms that don't exercise "reasonable care" in designing their algorithms. What does "reasonable care" mean? Who knows? It's a vague term designed to give lawyers and bureaucrats endless opportunities to argue about it.

The bill also creates a private right of action, allowing individuals to sue social media platforms if they're harmed by an algorithm (good luck proving that). And, because Congress loves to micromanage, the bill includes a bunch of definitions, exceptions, and carve-outs that will only serve to confuse everyone involved.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**

Social media platforms, obviously. But also, anyone who uses social media (i.e., almost everyone), because this bill will inevitably lead to more censorship, algorithmic tweaks, and general internet weirdness. Oh, and let's not forget the lawyers and lobbyists who'll make a killing off this mess.

**Potential Impact & Implications**

This bill is a classic case of "solution in search of a problem." It won't actually address any real issues with social media algorithms, but it will create new ones. Expect more algorithmic censorship, as platforms try to avoid lawsuits by erring on the side of caution (i.e., suppressing content). This will disproportionately harm marginalized communities and independent creators who rely on social media for their voices to be heard.

In short, this bill is a perfect example of Congress's favorite disease: "Regulatory-itis" – a chronic condition characterized by an inability to understand how technology works, combined with a compulsion to regulate it anyway. The symptoms include vague language, overbroad definitions, and a complete disregard for the unintended consequences of their actions.

Diagnosis: Terminal Stupidity (TS). Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: None available.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

**Algorithm Accountability Act (HR 6266)**

**Main Purpose and Objectives:** The Algorithm Accountability Act aims to amend Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934 to limit liability protection for social media platforms that fail to exercise reasonable care in designing, training, testing, deploying, operating, and maintaining recommendation-based algorithms. The bill seeks to hold social media platforms accountable for harm caused by their algorithms, while protecting users' rights and promoting transparency.

**Key Provisions and Changes to Existing Law:**

1. **Duty of Care**: Social media platforms must exercise reasonable care in designing and operating recommendation-based algorithms to prevent bodily injury or death. 2. **Loss of Liability Protection**: Platforms that violate the duty of care provision will lose liability protection under Section 230(c)(1). 3. **Private Right of Action**: Users who suffer harm due to a platform's violation of the duty of care can bring a civil action for compensatory and punitive damages. 4. **Invalidity of Predispute Agreements**: Predispute arbitration agreements and joint-action waivers are invalid with respect to disputes arising under this subsection.

**Affected Parties and Stakeholders:**

1. **Social Media Platforms**: Companies that operate social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. 2. **Users**: Individuals who use social media platforms and may be affected by the algorithms used on these platforms. 3. **Content Creators**: Individuals or organizations that create content for social media platforms.

**Potential Impact and Implications:**

1. **Increased Accountability**: Social media platforms will be held accountable for harm caused by their algorithms, which may lead to more responsible algorithm design and deployment practices. 2. **Improved Transparency**: Platforms may need to provide more information about their algorithms and how they operate, promoting transparency and user understanding. 3. **Potential Litigation**: The private right of action provision may lead to an increase in lawsuits against social media platforms, which could result in significant financial penalties. 4. **Impact on Free Speech**: The bill's provisions may raise concerns about the impact on free speech, as platforms may need to balance their duty of care with the need to protect users' rights to express themselves online.

Overall, the Algorithm Accountability Act aims to promote responsible algorithm design and deployment practices while protecting users' rights and promoting transparency. However, its implementation may have significant implications for social media platforms, content creators, and users alike.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (neutral personality)

Let's break down this gnarly bill, bro.

**Main Purpose & Objectives**

The Algorithm Accountability Act (HR 6266) is all about holdin' social media platforms accountable for the algorithms they use to serve up content. The main goal is to prevent harm to users and others caused by these algorithms. It's like, if a platform's algorithm is promoting hate speech or misinformation that leads to real-world violence, they should be responsible for it, man.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**

This bill amends Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, which has been a major shield for social media platforms from liability. The changes include:

* Requiring social media platforms to exercise "reasonable care" in designing and deploying algorithms that don't cause harm. * Creating a duty of care for platforms to prevent bodily injury or death caused by their algorithms. * Allowing users to sue platforms if they're harmed by an algorithm, even if the platform didn't directly create the content. * Prohibiting predispute arbitration agreements and waivers, so users can take platforms to court.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**

This bill affects social media platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. It also impacts users who might be harmed by these algorithms. Additionally, it could influence the way platforms design and deploy their algorithms, which could impact advertisers, content creators, and other stakeholders.

**Potential Impact & Implications**

If this bill becomes law, it could lead to some major changes in the social media landscape, bro. Platforms might need to rethink their algorithmic approaches to avoid liability. This could lead to more transparency and accountability around how algorithms work. On the flip side, it could also stifle innovation and free speech if platforms become too cautious.

However, there are concerns that this bill might not go far enough in addressing the root causes of harm caused by social media algorithms. Some critics argue that it doesn't address issues like algorithmic bias or the spread of misinformation.

Anyway, dude, that's a summary of HR 6266. It's a complex issue, but hopefully, this gives you a chill overview of what's going on.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (surfer personality)

**HR 6266: Algorithm Accountability Act**

**Main Purpose & Objectives** The Algorithm Accountability Act aims to amend Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, limiting liability protection for social media platforms that fail to exercise reasonable care in designing and deploying recommendation-based algorithms. The bill's primary objective is to hold social media companies accountable for harm caused by their algorithms, while also protecting users' rights.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law** The bill introduces a new subsection (f) to Section 230, which:

1. Establishes a duty of care for social media platforms in designing and deploying recommendation-based algorithms. 2. Defines "recommendation-based algorithm" as a system that ranks or curates content based on user personal data. 3. Exempts certain activities from the duty of care, such as chronological sorting and initial search results. 4. Provides a private right of action for individuals who suffer harm due to a platform's failure to exercise reasonable care. 5. Invalidates predispute arbitration agreements and waivers related to disputes arising under this subsection.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders** The bill directly affects social media platforms, particularly those that rely heavily on recommendation-based algorithms. Other stakeholders include:

1. Users: The bill aims to protect users from harm caused by algorithmic design flaws. 2. Advertisers: Changes to algorithmic curation may impact ad visibility and effectiveness. 3. Content creators: The bill's provisions may influence the types of content promoted or demoted on social media platforms.

**Potential Impact & Implications** The Algorithm Accountability Act has significant implications for social media companies, users, and the broader online ecosystem:

1. **Increased liability**: Social media platforms may face increased liability for harm caused by their algorithms. 2. **Algorithmic transparency**: The bill's provisions may lead to greater transparency in algorithmic decision-making processes. 3. **Changes in content curation**: Platforms may need to adjust their content curation strategies to comply with the duty of care. 4. **Potential impact on free speech**: The bill's exemptions for certain activities, such as chronological sorting, aim to protect free speech while still holding platforms accountable.

**Monied Interest Analysis** The Algorithm Accountability Act has garnered support from various stakeholders, including:

1. **Consumer advocacy groups**: Organizations focused on consumer protection and online safety have endorsed the bill. 2. **Civil rights organizations**: Groups advocating for social justice and equality have expressed support for the bill's provisions aimed at reducing harm caused by algorithmic bias.

However, the bill may face opposition from:

1. **Social media companies**: Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube may resist changes to their liability protections and algorithmic design processes. 2. **Industry lobby groups**: Organizations representing the tech industry, such as the Internet Association, may argue that the bill's provisions are overly broad or burdensome.

As a former lobbyist turned whistleblower, I can attest that the Algorithm Accountability Act represents a significant shift in the

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (whistleblower personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions

$157,510

20 donors

PACs

Organizations

Committees

Individuals

$157,510

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

ULRICH, DAVE

1 transaction

$10,000

BRENCHLEY, ROXANE

1 transaction

$9,900

BRENCHLEY, SHAWN

1 transaction

$9,900

JOHNSON, HEATHER

1 transaction

$9,900

JOHNSON, JOHN

1 transaction

$9,900

KENNEDY, HUGH

1 transaction

$9,900

KENNEDY, JACOB

1 transaction

$9,900

ULANOFF, DORY

1 transaction

$9,900

ZUPANCICH, ANTHONY

1 transaction

$9,900

PLUMB, WALTER III

1 transaction

$6,700

HEMMERT, DANIEL

1 transaction

$6,600

REAGAN, WILLIAM K

1 transaction

$6,600

SHURTZ, LINCOLN

1 transaction

$6,600

DURSTELER, BLAKE E

1 transaction

$6,600

CONLEE, ROBERT

1 transaction

$6,600

PETERSON, JAMIE

1 transaction

$6,600

PETERSON, TROY

1 transaction

$6,600

HAFEN, MARK

1 transaction

$5,205

SHEFFER, CLAY

1 transaction

$5,205

VON BATTEN, KARL

1 transaction

$5,000

Donor Network - Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

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Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Showing 29 nodes and 20 connections (32 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $157,510

Top Donors - Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount

20 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 harmed.

−Big Tech Platformsconfidence 0.95
Section 2(a)(2) amends Section 230 of the Communications Act to impose a duty of care on social media platforms regarding recommendation-based algorithms, removing liability protection for violations and allowing private rights of action for bodily injury or death, which directly harms big tech platforms by increasing legal exposure and compliance costs.
−Telecommunicationsconfidence 0.80
The bill's amendments to Section 230 affect 'interactive computer services,' which includes telecommunications providers that offer social media-like features; the loss of liability protection and new duties of care impose regulatory burdens on telecom firms operating such platforms.
−Print & Broadcast Mediaconfidence 0.70
The bill's definition of 'social media platform' excludes news or sports coverage, but the broader liability changes may still affect media companies that operate interactive platforms with recommendation algorithms, subjecting them to new duties and potential loss of Section 230 protections.

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Federal Communications Commission

Strong

Vector: 64%

Pages: 882-884AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The Algorithm Accountability Act aligns closely with Project 2025's goal of reforming Section 230 to hold Big Tech accountable for harmful algorithmic practices, increase transparency, and empower users, particularly through duty of care and liability reforms."

Key themes:Section 230 reformalgorithmic accountabilitytransparency requirementsuser empowermentliability for harm

Federal Communications Commission

Moderate

Vector: 64%

Pages: 882-884AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the bill and the Project 2025 policy call for reforming Section 230 to increase accountability and transparency of online platforms, though the bill focuses on preventing bodily harm from algorithms while Project 2025 emphasizes political neutrality, consumer empowerment, and Universal Service Fund contributions."

Key themes:Section 230 reformplatform accountabilitytransparencyconsumer empowerment

— 849 — Federal Communications Commission Big Tech, and it should look to Section 230 and the Consolidated Reporting Act as potential sources of authority.19 In acting, the FCC could require these platforms to provide greater specificity regarding their terms of service, and it could hold them accountable by prohibiting actions that are inconsistent with those plain and particular terms. Within this framework, Big Tech should be required to offer a transparent appeals process that allows for the challenging of pretextual takedowns or other actions that violate clear rules of the road. l Support legislation that scraps Section 230’s current approach. The FCC should work with Congress on more fundamental Section 230 reforms that go beyond interpreting its current terms. Congress should do so by ensuring that Internet companies no longer have carte blanche to censor protected speech while maintaining their Section 230 protections. As part of those reforms, the FCC should work with Congress to ensure that antidiscrimination provisions are applied to Big Tech—including “back-end” companies that provide hosting services and DDoS protection. Reforms that prohibit discrimination against core political viewpoints are one way to do this and would track the approach taken in a social media law passed in Texas, which was upheld on appeal in late 2022 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.20 In all of this, Congress can make certain points clear. It could focus legislation on dominant, general-use platforms rather than specialized ones. This could include excluding comment sections in online publications, specialized message boards, or communities within larger platforms that self-moderate. Similarly, Congress could legislate in a way that does not require any platform to host illegal content; child pornography; terrorist speech; and indecent, profane, or similar categories of speech that Congress has previously carved out. l Support efforts to empower consumers. The FCC and Congress should work together to formulate rules that empower consumers. Section 230 itself codifies “user control” as an express policy goal and encourages Internet platforms to provide tools that will “empower” users to engage in their own content moderation. As Congress takes up reforms, it should therefore be mindful of how we can return to Internet users the power to control their online experiences. One idea is to empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any. The FCC should also work with Congress to ensure stronger protections against young children accessing social media sites despite age restrictions that generally prohibit their use of these sites. — 850 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise It should be noted at this point that the views expressed here are not shared uniformly by all conservatives. There are some, including contributors to this chapter, who do not think that the FCC or Congress should act in a way that regulates the content-moderation decisions of private platforms. One of the main arguments that this group offers is that doing so would intrude— unlawfully in their view—on the First Amendment rights of corporations to exclude content from their private platforms. l Require that Big Tech begin to contribute a fair share. Big Tech has avoided accountability in several additional ways as well. One of them concerns the FCC’s roughly $9 billion Universal Service Fund. This initiative provides the support necessary to subsidize the agency’s affordable Internet and rural connectivity programs. The FCC obtains this funding through a line-item charge that carriers add to consumers’ monthly bills for traditional telecommunications service. While Big Tech derives tremendous value from the federal government’s universal service investments—using those federally supported networks to deliver their products and realize significant profits—these large corporations have avoided paying a fair share into the program. On top of that, the FCC’s current funding mechanism has been on an unsustainable path.21 By requiring traditional telephone customers to contribute to a fund that is being used increasingly to support broadband networks, the FCC’s current approach is the regulatory equivalent of taxing horseshoes to pay for highways. To put the FCC’s universal service program on a stable footing, Congress should require Big Tech companies to start contributing an appropriate amount. Conservatives are not unanimous in agreeing that the FCC should expand the USF contribution base. Instead, some argue that Congress should revisit the program’s entire funding structure and determine whether to continue subsidizing the provision of service. Future funding decisions, the argument goes, should be made by Congress through the normal appropriation process through which the USF program can compete for funding with other national initiatives. These decisions should be made with an eye to right-sizing the federal government’s existing broadband initiatives in light of both technological advances and the recent influx of billions of dollars in new appropriations that can be used to support efforts to end the digital divide. Protecting America’s National Security. During the Trump Administra- tion, the FCC ushered in a new and appropriately strong approach to the national

Small Business Administration

Weak

Vector: 63%

Pages: 783-785AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the bill and the Project 2025 SBA section emphasize accountability and transparency, but the bill targets social media algorithm liability while the SBA policy focuses on modernizing agency operations, reducing regulatory burden on small businesses, and strengthening advocacy—resulting only tangential thematic overlap."

Key themes:accountabilitytransparencyregulatory oversightperformance metrics

— 751 — Small Business Administration implement relevant initiatives to reach small businesses. Programs would be nonduplicative and implemented on a first-come, first-served basis. l A modern, revamped, and streamlined SBA that better utilizes current technology and platforms for operations, for reporting, and in its programs to reach, service, and engage small businesses. l An Office of Advocacy that is strengthened by a renewed mandate and additional resources to protect against overregulation along with a research agenda that includes measuring the total cost that federal regulation imposes on small businesses. Accountability and Managerial Practice. The SBA lacks accountability and managerial practices to measure the effectiveness, success, and integrity of its various programs. As a future Administration evaluates agency structure and the particulars of how the SBA is spending appropriated funds, it should immediately require actions and procedures to compel a culture of accountability and perfor- mance. Specifically: l Require performance metrics and internal procedures to safeguard taxpayer dollars and program integrity. As noted in an October 2022 IG report, failure to adopt procedures that would reliably capture data and information for various programs, coupled with significant challenges and weaknesses regarding IT investments, systems development, and security controls, presents significant risks to program integrity and increased risk of waste, fraud, and abuse.34 Addressing these shortcomings and risks should be a priority challenge and action item for the next Administration. As underscored by the Inspector General in his introduction to the report, “Pandemic response has, in many instances, magnified the challenging systemic issues in SBA’s mission-related work.”35 l Review all internal government watchdog recommendations and require that SBA management implement or address outstanding and ongoing OIG and GAO recommendations within a specified time frame (ideally within 90 days of a recommendation) and on an ongoing basis. Strengthening the Office of Advocacy. The SBA Office of Advocacy (Advo- cacy) is “an independent office” within the SBA.36 It accounts for about one one-thousandth of SBA spending and 0.75 percent of SBA personnel. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, both under its current authority and with suggested — 752 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise reforms, the Office of Advocacy could be a powerful weapon against the adminis- trative state’s regulatory extremism. l Amend the RFA so that all agencies are required to provide a copy of any proposed rule (other than bona fide emergency rules) along with initial regulatory flexibility analysis to the Office of Advocacy at least 60 days before a notice of proposed rulemaking is submitted for publication in the Federal Register. The Office of Advocacy would submit comments to agencies within 30 days, and each agency would have to consider these comments, make changes in the proposed rule based on those comments, or explain in a revised regulatory flexibility analysis why it chose not to change the proposed rule. The Office of Advocacy’s pre-proposing comments would be published on the agencies’ and its own websites. RFA economic analysis should be expanded to include indirect costs along with direct costs. In addition, the next Administration should require other agencies to seek Advocacy’s input. Currently, other agencies deny Advocacy the ability to enforce their duty to consider the effect of regulations on small entities by construing their regulations as not having significant economic impact, which would otherwise serve as a trigger for Advocacy’s input. Congress should presumptively exempt small businesses from new agency rules to force agencies to seek Advocacy’s input and permit new rules to apply to small businesses only with Advocacy signoff under specified criteria. l Increase the Office of Advocacy’s budget by at least 50 percent ($4.6 million). This would allow Advocacy to hire approximately 25 attorneys, economists, and scientists and enhance its role in the regulatory process. l Explicitly direct federal agencies to comply with the RFA. This would be similar to the approach adopted by President Trump in his January and February 2017 executive orders directing agencies to relieve the cost and burden of regulation on business.37 Advocacy should organize regional roundtables, onsite small-business visits, and an online platform to hear directly from small businesses and entities as it did from June 2017 through September 2018.38 This activity produced 26 letters to federal agencies and highlighted specific regulations that need reform and how Congress had addressed the most burdensome rules through the Congressional Review Act.39

Environmental Protection Agency

Minimal

Vector: 64%

Pages: 458-460AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill addresses social media algorithm liability under Section 230, while the Project 2025 EPA section focuses on air quality, greenhouse gas reporting, and permitting reforms; there is no substantive policy overlap."

Key themes:unrelatedno overlap

— 425 — Environmental Protection Agency are statutorily required, and remove any regulatory differences between attainment and maintenance that are not explicitly required by law. l Streamline the process for state and local governments to demonstrate that their federally funded highway projects will not interfere with NAAQS attainment. l Adopt policies to prevent abuse of EPA’s CAA “error correction” authority.20 EPA historically has used this to coerce states into adopting its favored policies on pain of imposition of a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP). l Limit EPA’s reliance on CAA § 30121 general rulemaking authority to ensure that it is not abused to issue regulations for which EPA lacks substantive authority elsewhere in the statute. l If possible, return the standard-setting role to Congress. Climate Change l Remove the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) for any source category that is not currently being regulated. The overall reporting program imposes significant burdens on small businesses and companies that are not being regulated. This is either a pointless burden or a sword-of- Damocles threat of future regulation, neither of which is appropriate. l Establish a system, with an appropriate deadline, to update the 2009 endangerment finding. l Establish a significant emissions rate (SER) for greenhouse gasses (GHGs). Regulating Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act22 l Repeal Biden Administration implementing regulations for the AIM Act that are unnecessarily stringent and costly. l Refrain from granting petitions from opportunistic manufacturers to add new restrictions that further skew the market toward costlier refrigerants and equipment. — 426 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise l Conduct realistic cost assessments that reflect actual consumer experiences instead of the current unrealistic ones claiming that the program is virtually cost-free. Mobile Source Regulation by the Office of Transportation and Air Quality l Establish GHG car standards under Department of Transportation (DOT) leadership that properly consider cost, choice, safety, and national security. l Review the existing “ramp rate” for car standards to ensure that it is actually achievable. l Include life cycle emissions of electric vehicles and consider all of their environmental impacts. l Restore the position that California’s waiver applies only to California- specific issues like ground-level ozone, not global climate issues. l Ensure that other states can adopt California’s standards only for traditional/criteria pollutants, not greenhouse gases. l Stop the use of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to increase standards on airplanes. l Reconsider the Cleaner Trucks Initiative to balance the goal of driving down emissions without creating significant costs or complex burdens on the industry. Air Permitting Reforms for New Source Review (Pre-Construction Per- mits) and Title V (Operating Permits) l Develop reforms to ensure that when a facility improves efficiency within its production process, new permitting requirements are not triggered. l Restore the Trump EPA position on Once-In, Always-In (that major sources can convert to area sources when affiliated emissions standards are met). l Revisit permitting and enforcement assumptions that sources will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; this artificially inflates a source’s potential to emit (PTE), which can result in more stringent permit terms.

Department of Health and Human Services

Minimal

Vector: 63%

Pages: 515-517AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The Algorithm Accountability Act focuses on social media algorithm liability and user harm, while the Project 2025 policy excerpt addresses healthcare caregiver strategies, telehealth licensure, and contraceptive mandate reforms under HHS. There is no substantive thematic or policy overlap between the two."

— 483 — Department of Health and Human Services l Readdress the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. While in theory the strategy aims to support family members with duties to care for older family members, the plan is overly focused on racial and “LGBTQ+ equity.” The strategy should be examined to establish an efficient plan to support caregivers and their families. There should also be a review of its COVID-19 policies. HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA) l Congress should allow CMS to use the 340B data that HRSA collects rather than having CMS conduct its own survey, especially in view of the U.S. Supreme Court’s American Hospital Association v. Becerra decision.69 The legislation should also create penalties for those who do not respond to HRSA’s data collection. l Legally define the locus of service as where the provider is located during the telehealth visit rather than where the patient is. With such a definition, states could continue to reserve their powers to establish the standards for licensure and scope of practice. The providers could ensure continuity and consistency of care no matter where their patients might move while maintaining the licenses that make the most sense for them. Americans are far more mobile and technologically advanced today than they were when most health care laws were written. Telehealth has become increasingly important, particularly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also has great potential in rural and other areas where there are shortages of health care providers. HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth includes a program known as the Licensure Portability Grant Program, which bolsters state efforts to reform licensing laws to maximize telehealth flexibility. HRSA does not have the authority through this office to dictate licensure laws; that power has typically been reserved to the states. However, telehealth across state lines, when permitted, is interstate commerce, which can be regulated by the federal government according to the Constitution. l Restore Trump religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate (also a CMS rule). HHS should rescind, if finalized, the regulation titled “Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act,” proposed jointly by HHS, Treasury, and Labor.70 This rule proposes to amend Trump-era final rules regarding religious and moral exemptions and accommodations for coverage of certain preventive services under the ACA. Preventive services include contraception, and — 484 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise it appears the proposed rule would change the existing regulations for religious and moral exemptions to the ACA’s contraception mandate. There is no need for further rulemaking that curtails existing exemptions and accommodations. l Require HRSA to use rulemaking to update the women’s preventive services mandate. The contraceptive mandate issued under Obamacare has been the source of years of egregious attacks on many Americans’ religious and moral beliefs. The mandate was issued as part of the women’s preventive services guidelines, which were issued without any rulemaking that involved public notice and an opportunity to comment. Instead, HRSA issued and changed the mandate by simply posting changes to its website. HRSA also started off not requiring coverage of fertility awareness–based methods of family planning, then requiring them, and then removing the requirement without notifying the public. A federal judge recently ruled that this failure to undergo notice and comment in issuing the mandate is unlawful. HRSA should be required to repromulgate any women’s preventive services mandates through the notice and comment process that is compliant with the Administrative Procedures Act. Moreover, since the Obama Administration HRSA entered into long- term contracts with the pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and related entities to serve as an exclusive adviser with respect to the content of this mandate, HRSA has used this arrangement to ignore comments that members of the public were sometimes able to submit in the process, and ACOG has abused its position to attack HHS’s allowance of religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate. HHS should rescind these contracts and establish an advisory committee that is compliant with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and has members that are committed to women’s preventive services and are not pro-abortion ideologues. l Expand inclusion of fertility awareness–based methods and supplies to family planning in the women’s preventive services mandate. The ACA requires coverage of and prevents insurance plans from imposing any cost-sharing requirements on women who obtain preventive care and screenings as defined by HRSA. In 2016, HHS included “instruction in fertility awareness-based methods” as part of this requirement. However, in December 2021, HHS removed that language from its list without using the notice-and-comment process or giving any rationale, both of which are mandated by the Administrative Procedures Act. In August

Showing 3 of 5 policy matches

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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