CRAMER: REINS Act Important Law for Achieving Regulatory Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Cramer called a bill passed by the House of Representatives today a key tool for regulatory reform in the 115th Congress and incoming Trump Administration.

H.R. 26, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2017, requires all major rules issued by an executive branch agency to be approved by Congress within 70 days before they can take effect. A major rule is one estimated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to impact the economy by $100 million or more, and had this law been in place during the last session of Congress, the Clean Power Plan and the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule would have been subject to this Congressional action. 

Cramer is a co-sponsor of H.R. 26, and has co-sponsored similar legislation passed by the House in the two previous sessions of Congress.  “The pace and volume of federal regulations has been increasing every year, placing burdens on the growth of the economy,” said Cramer. “Eliminating this burden demands an equal pace of repeal and relief in the 115th Congress.”  

He said a recent economic study found if regulations had been held constant at 1980 levels, by 2012 the U.S. economy would be 25 percent larger.  “Add to this the Obama Administration’s record-breaking pace of issuing rules and regulations and it’s clear how actions by unelected bureaucrats have been a drag on the economy,” Cramer said.

He said the REINS Act also increases Congress's accountability for the content of Federal legal requirements. “This will force greater deliberation by federal agencies before they issue rules that expand their reach into the lives of Americans. Through legislation like the REINS Act, this new session of Congress is keeping its promise to make reducing the economic burden of regulations a top priority.  And, this Congress will have the support of our new president to make it happen.”