Democratic senators seek to reverse Supreme Court ruling that restricts federal agency power

WASHINGTON — Democratic senators plan to introduce legislation Tuesday that would effectively overturn a Supreme Court ruling last month that imposed new limits on federal agencies when they issue regulations about a wide variety of issues, including the environment and consumer protection.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., will introduce a bill that would restore the previous standard under which federal agencies had some leeway to interpret the law when they issued regulations under statutes that are ambiguously written. It has the backing of nine other Democratic senators, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

"Giant corporations are using far-right, unelected judges to hijack our government and undermine the will of Congress,” Warren said in a statement Tuesday.

The legislation, she said, would “bring transparency and efficiency to the federal rule-making process” and “make sure corporate interest groups can’t substitute their preferences for the judgment of Congress and the expert agencies.”

It is the first piece of legislation about the issue to be introduced since the Supreme Court ruling; Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., previously introduced a House measure.

With Republicans in control of the House and generally supportive of the latest Supreme Court decision, it appears unlikely the legislation has much chance of becoming law during this Congress. In addition, a Republican bill that passed the House last year would require congressional approval before any major federal regulations can take effect. That measure has not advanced in the Democratic-led Senate.

"Chevron deference" was the legal rule that existed for decades under the 1984 Supreme Court ruling called Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which