WASHINGTON, DC . . . Today Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-04) voted with a House Majority to pass the second of two bills this week promoting job creation through small business deregulation.

"As our economy continues to suffer and many Americans struggle to find jobs, now more than ever it is evident that a strong recovery is dependent on job creators," said Hall. "Our country's primary job creators are small business owners, and it is essential that we do all we can to enable small businesses to thrive and expand."

Hall continued, "The single most important action Washington can take to allow small businesses to grow is to remove the largest obstacle they face - burdensome federal regulations." According to a Gallup poll conducted last month, complying with government regulations is the most important problem small business owners face.

"This year, the House Majority has focused on deregulation to promote job growth," Hall noted. "Private employers must be freed up to spend money that otherwise would go to unnecessary federal regulation, allowing them to invest and produce more, and in turn creating more jobs for American workers.

"America's economic growth depends on job creators, not regulators. If Congress can alleviate some regulatory burdens, small businesses and consumers can be allowed the freedom to once again maximize their potential. I will continue to use my seniority and committee Chairmanship to further the goals of my constituents as Congress works toward strengthening our economy and getting people back to work."

Passage of H.R. 527, The Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act and H.R. 3010, The Regulatory Accountability Act, directly address federal regulations that hurt small businesses and kill jobs, continuing the priority the House has placed on job growth through deregulation.

Specifically, these bills focus on:

• Closing loopholes, which ensures that agencies will fully account for the effects of new regulations on small businesses before adoption;
• Assessing the costs and benefits of regulatory alternatives, and requiring agencies to adopt the least-costly alternative that achieves the regulatory objectives; and
• Increasing the transparency of the rulemaking process with more advance notices of proposed rulemaking, more opportunities for public comment and more opportunities for public hearings.
   

###