Troy Downing (R-MT)
McCarran-Ferguson Restoration Act
A Republican bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "McCarran-Ferguson Restoration Act," seeks to eliminate the Federal Insurance Office and its Director within the Department of the Treasury. In its place, it establishes a United States Insurance Representative to handle various insurance-related duties. The Representative will coordinate international insurance policy, assist with the Terrorism Insurance Program, and determine if State insurance measures should be preempted by federal covered agreements. The bill also modifies the membership of the Financial Stability Oversight Council to include a State insurance commissioner. Additionally, it amends several existing financial regulatory acts to reflect these structural changes.
Yes
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill facilitates international insurance coordination and potential preemption of State measures that could favor non-U.S. insurers.
- Scored +2
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates that the new Insurance Representative publish notices in the Federal Register and submit annual reports to Congress.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -2
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill allows for the preemption of State insurance measures by a federal representative, which could reduce local consumer protections.
- Scored -1
Would people in cities be better off under this?
Changes in insurance regulation can impact various urban-centric insurance products and their availability.
- Scored -1
Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act?
The elimination of the Federal Insurance Office may reduce the central administrative oversight of insurance regulatory trends.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Consumer Protection Standards: Under section 3(d)(2)(B), any determination to preempt a State insurance measure must achieve a level of protection for insurance or reinsurance consumers that is substantially equivalent to the level of protection achieved under State regulation.
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Administrative Oversight and Transparency: The bill requires the United States Insurance Representative to publish notices in the Federal Register regarding potential preemption and to submit annual reports to Congress regarding actions taken (Section 3(d)(2) and Section 3(i)(1)).
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Expertise in Insurance Matters: The Secretary is directed to hire and retain individuals with expertise in matters related to insurance to serve as the United States Insurance Representative (Section 3(a)).
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Consultation with State Officials: The United States Insurance Representative is tasked with consulting with States and State insurance regulators regarding insurance matters of national and international importance (Section 3(b)(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Preemption of State Insurance Measures: The bill allows the United States Insurance Representative to determine that a State insurance measure is preempted by a covered agreement, which means no State may enforce that measure (Section 3(d)(1) and Section 3(d)(4)).
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Changes to State Authority: The Representative can determine if a State insurance measure results in less favorable treatment of a non-United States insurer compared to a United States insurer, which may impact how State measures are applied (Section 3(d)(1)(A)).
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Federal Authority over Insurance Lines: While certain areas like health, long-term care, and crop insurance are excluded or limited, the authority of the United States Insurance Representative extends to the prudential aspects of all other lines of insurance offered in the United States (Section 3(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill facilitates international insurance coordination and potential preemption of State measures that could favor non-U.S. insurers. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Changes in insurance regulation can impact various urban-centric insurance products and their availability.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill allows for the preemption of State insurance measures by a federal representative, which could reduce local consumer protections.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that the new Insurance Representative publish notices in the Federal Register and submit annual reports to Congress.
- Healthcare
- Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The elimination of the Federal Insurance Office may reduce the central administrative oversight of insurance regulatory trends.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill changes the administration of the Terrorism Insurance Program, which is part of the broader national security framework.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The changes to insurance regulation could indirectly impact the availability of insurance required for certain housing and lending products.
- 8/31/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/16/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Scott FitzgeraldRepublican · Wisconsin
Andy HarrisRepublican · Maryland
Barry MooreRepublican · Alabama
Troy NehlsRepublican · Texas
Andrew OglesRepublican · Tennessee