HEARING WILL LOOK AT REGULATORY REFORM OF INDEPENDENT AGENCIES, WHICH WERE EXCLUDED FROM EXECUTIVE ORDER TO REVIEW REGULATIONS AND POLICIES

Washington, Jul 6 - In an ongoing review of the Administration's regulatory reform agenda, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, is holding a hearing to examine how the independent agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction have responded to the President's executive order for agencies to review their regulations.

Said Stearns, "The President's executive order requires agencies to review their regulations with an eye toward eliminating or reducing those that impose economic burdens that exceed their benefits to the American people. However, the executive order excluded independent agencies, which have an economic impact of $230 billion annually on our economy, but the Office of Management and Budget requested that they review their regulations. In this hearing, we will look at what kind of regulatory reviews they are conducting and if they are changing their rulemaking process to promote economic growth and job creation."

On Thursday, July 7, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled "The Views of the Independent Agencies on Regulatory Reform."

Witnesses:

• Robert S. Adler, Commissioner, Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Anne Northrup, Commissioner, Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Robert McDowell, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
• Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Philip D. Moeller, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
• Jon Leibowitz, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
• William E. Kovacic, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission