In the area of agriculture, the group would weaken National School Lunch Program standards that require low salt, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, arguing that "schools are throwing food away that students are not eating." The change could help processed food companies such as Pepsi Co Inc., Kellogg Co. and Hormel Foods Corp.
To the benefit of the tobacco industry, the group would end recent rules requiring new pre-market approval for cigars and restricting smoking in public housing.
EPA, Energy
The list included for elimination a spate of regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency, ranging from pollution standards for power plants to ozone reduction requirements estimated to cost billions of dollars a year.
In addition the list proposed the elimination of the renewable fuel standard, the EPA program that requires refiners such as ExxonMobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. to use billions of gallons of ethanol and other biofuels. Revoking the rules would hurt ethanol makers like Green Plains Inc.
A slew of Energy Department rules requiring household products use less electricity would be voided, including new standards for ceiling fans that have been opposed by companies such as Lowe’s Cos. Inc. and Home Depot Inc., which have expressed concerns the requirements could more than double the price of some fans.
The once mundane efficiency requirements have come to be seen by the Tea Party and others as a symbol of government overreach and intrusion. Appliance makers Whirlpool Corp., General Electric Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. could see their business plans affected.
The caucus also takes aim at an Energy Department program that encourages businesses to use alternative vehicles in their fleets. "Billions of dollars have been sunk into this program for years," the document said. " The report cites subsidies that Tesla Motors Inc. Chairman Elon Musk received for his electric car.
The Freedom Caucus listed as one of its objectives removing the rule designed to guarantee that doctors and insurers can’t cite the conscience clause as a reason to deny patients contraceptives.
Trump’s transition team didn’t respond to a request for comment on the list, which is illustrated with a photograph of a Depression-era free-soup line.