Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced two pieces of legislation—the Locating the Inefficiencies of Bureaucratic Edicts to Reform and Transform the Economy (LIBERATE) Act and the Promoting Innovation and Offering the Needed Escape from Exhaustive Regulations (PIONEER) Act—to reduce excessive federal regulations and encourage innovation across the economy. Together, these bills aim to streamline federal regulations, remove barriers to innovation, and restore the proper balance of power between the federal government and the American people. 

"Federal regulations have become an invisible tax on every American business and consumer," said Senator Lee. "The LIBERATE and PIONEER Acts will work in tandem to roll back excessive and outdated regulations, providing immediate relief and long-term reform. By creating a framework that encourages innovation and reduces unnecessary red tape, we can ensure that the American economy remains the most dynamic and competitive in the world."

The LIBERATE Act establishes a Regulatory Oversight and Review Task Force designed to identify and expedite the repeal of burdensome regulations that inhibit global competition, create barriers to entry for startups, increase operational costs, impact energy production, and create unnecessarily lengthy permitting processes.

The PIONEER Act builds on this by creating a federal regulatory sandbox modeled after Utah's successful program. This program allows businesses to innovate freely by temporarily waiving certain regulations. This approach not only encourages business success but also provides lawmakers with the data needed to craft better, more effective regulations in the future.

LIBERATE Act:

• Establishes the Regulatory Oversight and Review Task Force, composed of key government and private sector experts.
• Focuses on repealing regulations that stifle competition, increase costs, and slow economic growth.
• Requires the task force to submit quarterly and annual reports to Congress, including a "Special Message" with recommendations for repeal.

The Liberate Act is cosponsored by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Mike Crapo (R-ID).

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"At the Salt Lake Chamber, we support Senator Lee's initiatives to drive economic growth and foster innovation through the LIBERATE Act and the PIONEER Act. The LIBERATE Act's establishment of the Regulatory Oversight and Review Task Force promises to streamline federal regulations, reducing inefficiencies and eliminating barriers to competition that inhibit our businesses. Meanwhile, the PIONEER Act's regulatory sandbox program provides a vital opportunity for businesses to innovate and grow in a controlled environment, balancing regulatory relief with necessary consumer protections. Both pieces of legislation embody a forward-thinking approach that aligns with our commitment to a thriving, dynamic economy. We encourage our federal government to follow Utah's example of regulatory reform and support these bills, creating a modern and dynamic framework that will unleash the power of the private sector." – Derek Miller, President and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber

“National Taxpayers Union is pleased to support Senator Lee's LIBERATE Act. This legislation would help reduce the burden imposed by excessive regulations that impede entrepreneurship and make it harder for U.S. companies to compete. American businesses should not be burdened by outdated, unnecessary regulations as they strive to create good new jobs. NTU endorses Senator Lee's effort to remove federal barriers to economic growth and opportunity.” – Brandon Arnold, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union

Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Senior Economist, Ryan Young said,  “Regulations make it difficult to start new businesses and invent new products. They make energy and housing more expensive. And there are more than a million regulations already on the books. Agencies aren't doing about it, and neither is Congress. Sen. Lee's LIBERATE Act would instead create a commission to identify harmful rules and give Congress a package to repeal. This regulatory housekeeping can open opportunities for ordinary Americans and stimulate the economy without new deficit spending.”

Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Fred L. Smith Fellow in Regulatory Studies, Wayne Crews said, “In Washington, D.C., regulatory measures are even less restrained than federal spending, which has already driven the nation into a $35 trillion debt. The overlooked 'hidden tax' of regulatory intervention needs to be addressed with the same urgency as federal spending, particularly with President Biden's broad 'Whole-of-Government' regulatory initiatives. We must urgently restore balance through increased transparency and a robust reaffirmation of Article I Congressional accountability. This means putting an end to regulation without representation. Essential steps include the establishment of a regulatory reduction commission, as outlined in Senator Mike Lee's LIBERATE Act, and requiring Congress to reclaim its legislative authority by approving significant new agency rules and guidance documents before they take effect.”

"Americans know that it's too difficult to buy home, open a business, or even just make a living. With Senator Lee's LIBERATE Act, Congress will have an opportunity to begin peeling back the regulations and restrictions that are standing in the way of so many Americans' dreams. The bipartisan task force that this legislation envisions would bring together experts and entrepreneurs from across the economy to analyze whether many of the regulations currently on the books are worthwhile. Once the task force has decided, Congress would have the opportunity to quickly remove those regulations that don't measure up." - Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity.

PIONEER Act:

• Defines a federal regulatory sandbox allowing businesses to innovate without the constraints of certain regulations for up to two years.
• Establishes the Office of Regulatory Relief to oversee the sandbox and ensure public health and safety.
• Provides a path for businesses to renew their regulatory waivers for up to ten years.

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"The economy and innovation overall are hindered by outdated regulations that limit or prohibit new approaches to solving our problems and addressing our needs. Following the lead of Utah and fifteen other states, Senator Lee's PIONEER Act provides a needed and hopeful bipartisan solution: a flexible approach to regulations that welcomes new ideas to better our world." – Libertas