H.R. 4790 · 118th Congress · House

Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Introduced
Jul 20, 23
Passed House
Sep 19, 24
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Guiding Uniform and Responsible Disclosure Requirements and Information Limits Act of 2023 or the GUARDRAIL Act of 2023

This bill limits the disclosures required by issuers of securities as a result of a rulemaking and establishes the Public Company Advisory Committee.

First, the bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to limit issuer disclosure requirements made in a rulemaking. Specifically, the SEC must provide that an issuer of securities is only required to disclose information in response to a rulemaking if the issuer determines that this information is material with respect to a voting or investment decision regarding the issuer’s securities.

The bill also requires the SEC to report on its website each required disclosure of nonmaterial information under current federal securities laws and regulations and a justification for the disclosure. The SEC must report this information to Congress every five years. The bill also establishes that a person's failure to disclose such nonmaterial information is not a liability in a private action.

Further, the bill establishes the Public Company Advisory Committee within the SEC. The committee must advise the SEC on regulatory priorities, public reporting and corporate governance of public companies, shareholder meetings and the proxy process, and other topics. The committee must be comprised of individuals who are officials of public companies, have senior managerial responsibility in associations that represent the interests of public companies, or provide professional advice and services to public companies.  

Finally, the bill requires the SEC to report on the effects of the European Union's directives on corporate sustainability, particularly on U.S. companies, consumers, and investors.  

Previous Versions

00Jul 20, 2023

Guiding Uniform and Responsible Disclosure Requirements and Information Limits Act of 2023 or the GUARDRAIL Act of 2023

This bill limits the disclosures required by issuers of securities as a result of a rulemaking and establishes the Public Company Advisory Committee.

First, the bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to limit issuer disclosure requirements made in a rulemaking. Specifically, the SEC must provide that an issuer of securities is only required to disclose information in response to a rulemaking if the issuer determines that this information is material with respect to a voting or investment decision regarding the issuer’s securities.

The bill also requires the SEC to report on its website each required disclosure of nonmaterial information under current federal securities laws and regulations and a justification for the disclosure. The SEC must report this information to Congress every five years. The bill also establishes that a person's failure to disclose such nonmaterial information is not a liability in a private action.

Further, the bill establishes the Public Company Advisory Committee within the SEC. The committee must advise the SEC on regulatory priorities, public reporting and corporate governance of public companies, shareholder meetings and the proxy process, and other topics. The committee must be comprised of individuals who are officials of public companies, have senior managerial responsibility in associations that represent the interests of public companies, or provide professional advice and services to public companies.  

Finally, the bill requires the SEC to report on the effects of the European Union's directives on corporate sustainability, particularly on U.S. companies, consumers, and investors.  

Action Timeline

22
  1. SEP 23, 2024IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

  2. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H

    Res. 1455. (consideration: CR H5477-5494)

    5477Yea
    5494Nay
    0NV
  3. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R

    3724, H.R. 4790, H.R. 5179, H.R. 5339, H.R. 5717, H.R. 7909 and H.J. Res. 136. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3724 and H.R. 5717 under a structured rule and H.R. 4790, H.R. 5179, H.R. 5339, H.R. 7909, and H.J. Res. 136 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.

  4. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4790.

  5. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  6. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    Mr

    Casten moved to recommit to the Committee on Financial Services. (text: CR H5494)

  7. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

  8. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R

    4790, the Chair put the question on the motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Huizenga demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  9. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H5496-5498)

    5496Yea
    5498Nay
    0NV
  10. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #434

    206 - 211 (Roll no. 434).

    206Yea
    211Nay
    0NV
  11. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #435

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 203, 1 Present (Roll no. 435). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5477-5486)

    215Yea
    203Nay
    0NV
  12. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #435

    215 - 203, 1 Present (Roll no. 435). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5477-5486)

    215Yea
    203Nay
    0NV
  13. SEP 19, 2024Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  14. SEP 17, 2024Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 1455 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3724, H.R. 4790, H.R. 5179, H.R. 5339, H.R. 5717, H.R. 7909 and H.J. Res. 136. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3724 and H.R. 5717 under a structured rule and H.R. 4790, H.R. 5179, H.R. 5339, H.R. 7909, and H.J. Res. 136 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.

  15. DEC 22, 2023Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 118-336.

    118Yea
    336Nay
    0NV
  16. DEC 22, 2023Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 118-336.

    118Yea
    336Nay
    0NV
  17. DEC 22, 2023Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 275.

  18. JUL 27, 2023Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  19. JUL 27, 2023Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 21.

    29Yea
    21Nay
    0NV
  20. JUL 20, 2023IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  21. JUL 20, 2023IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  22. JUL 20, 2023IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Committees

6

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

ssbk00

Referred: Sep 23, 2024

Active

Financial Services Committee

hsba00

Referred: Sep 19, 2024

Active

Financial Services Committee

hsba00

Referred: Sep 19, 2024

Active

Financial Services Committee

hsba00

Referred: Dec 22, 2023

Active

Financial Services Committee

hsba00

Referred: Jul 27, 2023

Active

Financial Services Committee

hsba00

Referred: Jul 20, 2023

Active