EXCLUSIVE — House lawmakers are urging passage of a bill to cut back on the tens of thousands of federal criminal statutes and regulations, which critics say are too sprawling and cause prosecutors to over-criminalize people.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who leads a panel on the Constitution and limited government, is spearheading the bipartisan effort along with Reps. Lucy McBath (D-GA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ).