Grassley Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Overturn the Chevron Doctrine

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling reaffirming the founding principle that the judiciary, not the executive bureaucracy, must exercise its constitutional duty to faithfully interpret the law.

“Today’s decision restores appropriate balance to our nation’s system of checks and balances. The Supreme Court has made clear that we are a nation governed by the rule of law, not by bureaucratic regulators.

“Congress will now be under extreme pressure to be more specific when writing legislation, so that a bill’s plain text can be clearly interpreted by the courts and federal agencies when legislation becomes law. This decision brings enhanced accountability to Congress and the executive branch.”

Background

Previously, courts have deferred to an agency’s “permissible” interpretation of the law in instances in which a federal statute appeared unclear. This practice was known as the “Chevron doctrine,” established by the Supreme Court’s 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. 

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