Count the Crimes to Cut Act

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Mr. Lee and a bipartisan group of senators, requires the government to create a complete list of every federal law and regulation that carries a criminal penalty. Currently, there is no single official database that tells the public exactly how many federal crimes exist or what they all are.
• The Attorney General and dozens of federal agencies, including the Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency, would have one year to identify all their criminal rules. They must list what actions make a person guilty, the potential prison time or fines, and how often they have actually prosecuted people for these crimes over the last 15 years.
• Within two years, the government must put this information into a searchable index on their websites that anyone can use for free. This is designed to help regular people and business owners understand the rules they are expected to follow so they do not accidentally break a law they didn't know existed.
• The reports must also specify the level of intent required for each crime. This helps clarify whether a person can be charged for an honest mistake or if the government must prove the person specifically meant to break the law.

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