Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 3973 - Faithful Execution of the Law Act of 2014

(House)

(Rep. DeSantis, R-Florida, and 35 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly opposes passage of H.R. 3973. The bill would inordinately expand current law, which already requires reports to Congress when non-enforcement of Federal law is based on constitutional grounds. H.R. 3973 would further require reporting to Congress each time any Federal officer establishes or implements a formal or informal policy to refrain from enforcing or administering any provision of a Federal law, rule, regulation, program, or policy on any grounds.

Federal agencies are continually engaged in the process of determining how to concentrate limited enforcement resources most effectively. The vastly expanded reporting scheme required by the bill would be unduly burdensome and would place the Attorney General in the unprecedented position of having to be kept informed of and report on enforcement decisions made by every other Federal agency.

If the President were presented with H.R. 3973, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.