Congressman Todd Young [IN-09] introduced the REINS Act in the 113th Congress, but the bill goes back farther than that.

In 2009, Congressman Geoff Davis [KY-04] met with a constituent concerned about the effects of unfunded EPA mandates on his water and sewer bills.  The constituent asked a simple yet powerful question: Why doesn’t Congress vote on new regulations?

Congressman Davis was immediately struck by the clear, almost obvious concept.  He and his staff began looking into the idea and drafting legislation right away.

Congressman Davis filed the REINS Act in October 2009 as H.R. 3765.  The bill ultimately gained 85 co-sponsors during the 111th Congress.  Senator Jim DeMint [R-SC] introduced the bill in the Senate as S. 3826, which garnered 12 co-sponsors. 

In September 2010, passage of the REINS Act was included as one of the goals of the House Republican governing agenda known as the Pledge to America.

When the 112th Congress convened in January 2011, Congressman Geoff Davis, with the support of House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, reintroduced the REINS Act.  The bill became a top priority of Speaker of the House John Boehner [OH-08], and it garnered 202 co-sponsors.  Senator Rand Paul [R-KY] introduced the REINS Act in the United States Senate in February 2011, and it has amassed 31 co-sponsors.

The REINS Act had two legislative hearings in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law.  In May 2011, the REINS Act was included in both the official House and Senate plans to create jobs and economic growth.  The bill then received markups in the House Judiciary Committee and the House Rules Committee during the fall.

On December 7, 2011, the REINS Act passed the House on a bipartisan vote.  Click here to see how your representative voted.  The Senate never held a hearing for the bill in the 112th Congress.