Washington, DC – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, continued her push for pro-job, pro-growth regulatory reform by voting for H. Res. 72, a resolution directing House committees to review existing, pending, and proposed regulations and orders from the federal government, focusing on their effect on jobs and economic growth.

“Last week, I met with a company who said the only way they can comply with the flood of upcoming regulations is not to operate,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “This year, America slipped in the Index of Economic Freedom – an annual report released by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal – dropping from an ‘economically free’ society a to ‘mostly free’ society – mainly because of these oppressive regulations. 

“The new Majority is committing to getting these oppressive regulations under control. Passage of today’s resolution is a good first step.”  

Rep. McMorris Rodgers is a cosponsor of the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS) Act of 2011.”  This bill would reverse Congress’ delegation of its constitutional authority for making laws to the executive branch through regulations.  Specifically, the bill would require that any rule whose effect on the economy would exceed $100 million annually would require Congressional approval in order to become law.

The urgency of this urgency can be demonstrated in the following statistics:

•           A recent study by the Heritage Foundation found that an unprecedented 43 major regulations were imposed in fiscal year 2010 with a total economic cost of $26.5 billion.

•           Since passage in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has added 6,123 pages of regulations and Federal Register notices in just its first nine months.

•           According to a September 2010 report from the Small Business Administration, total regulatory costs amount to $1.75 trillion annually, nearly twice as much as all individual income taxes collected last year.

Rep. McMorris Rodgers spoke on the House floor yesterday advocating passage of H. Res. 72.  To watch her speech, click here.  A copy of her prepared remarks are below. 

H. Res. 72

In the House of Representatives, U.S.

Feb. 10, 2011

Statement of Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.Res. 72.

Last week, I met with a company who said the only way they can comply with the flood of regulations is to not operate.

Just last month, America slipped in its economic freedom rating. We are no longer an “economically free” society but “mostly free” because of these oppressive regulations. Not labor costs, but regulations!

We don’t have to look any further than the hard rock mining industry, many of which operate in Eastern Washington, to see this statement play out.

Despite effective safeguards implemented by states, the federal government, through the EPA, has decided that it needs to step in and add regulations that will all but certain drain this industry of its capital -- forcing businesses to cut jobs, not invest in America – ultimately making us dependent upon other countries for these important minerals.

Mr. Chairman, regulation is not what this nation is about. America is about entrepreneurialism, innovation, and preserving the American Dream.  I urge this Congress to take steps to get these oppressive regulations under control. A good first step is passage of the resolution we are considering today.

I yield back the balance of my time.