Next Advocacy Goal: Agency Rulemaking

Agency Rulemaking

In addition to reaching out to elected officials, Zontians can engage with Federal agencies providing comments on proposed rules and regulations. Federal agencies have been instructed to de-regulate–meaning for each regulation they want to issue, they will need to rescind 10. These rescissions can have a negative impact on women and girls.

Most agency rules and rescissions undergo notice and comment rule making with individuals or organizations typically having 30 days to comment. Agencies must respond to the comments and address concerns, otherwise the rule can be thrown out by a judge. Find proposed rules HERE and an in-depth guide to the federal rule making process HERE.

Example: Paycheck Fairness:

All workers deserve fair pay, and all families deserve quality care. The Department of Labor should be raising standards for domestic workers to ensure fair pay. These workers—over 90% of whom are women, and more than half of whom are Black, Hispanic, or Asian American and Pacific Islander—are already paid far less
than other U.S. workers. On average, they earn just $13.79 an hour compared with the national median of $21.76. Instead, the Department of Labor is issuing a proposed rule to remove minimum wage and overtime rights for domestic workers. (comments were due in Sept. 2025)  Removing minimum wage protections and overtime pay will only widen the equal pay gap.
There was limited time to submit comments to the Department of Labor in opposition to this  proposed rule.

Watch for more actions related to Rulemaking in Fast Action Fridays.