Live at 11:30am ET → Speaker Ryan's Weekly Press Briefing: speaker.gov/live

Summary: At his weekly press conference today, Speaker Ryan outlined actions that Republicans are taking to address the onslaught of regulations coming out of Washington.

Key Quote: If we are going to get our economy back on track, we need to get people the freedom they need. We need to get government out of the way of hardworking people so that we can create jobs in this country. This is what regulatory reform is all about, and it will be one of the highest priorities of this new unified Republican government.

Transcript:
“This week, we have hit the ground running on a bold agenda for our country. We have taken action on bills to help our veterans. We have just jumpstarted our work to deliver relief for Americans struggling under Obamacare. And we are starting to address the damage done by burdensome regulations.

One big reason that our economy is so far from its potential—one reason there is so much frustration among Americans—is the crush of regulations that are coming out of Washington. Go just about anywhere in the country—be it coal mines in the Rust Belt or paper mills out West or in the Midwest—you will see jobs and whole industries in jeopardy.

“For too long, unelected bureaucrats have been simply telling people how things are going to be, handing down all these regulations with little scrutiny or thought. This needs to change, and not just by peeling away this rule or that particular regulation.

“President-elect Trump has called for an overhaul of our entire regulatory system. This was always a key part of our agenda that we ran on this fall. So here are just a few of the first steps we are taking to protect jobs in this country:

“First, where we can, we will use the Congressional Review Act to provide relief from job-crushing regulations.

“Here’s an example: Without any real input from the states, the administration recently handed down regulations that could wipe out literally thousands upon thousands of jobs in coal country. We plan to put a resolution of disapproval on the new president’s desk to stop this rule.

“Second: We want to stop the Obama administration’s last-minute regulatory onslaught altogether. It is on pace to cost Americans billions and billions of dollars. This week, the House took action to pass a bill to make it easier to reverse the midnight rules that lame duck presidents push through at the 11th hour.

“Third: We will set in motion a series of reforms to fix the regulatory system itself. Today, with the president-elect’s support, we are passing the REINS Act. It will provide more accountability and transparency before major rules or regulations take effect. It will help make sure the government gets it right.

“If we are going to get our economy back on track, we need to get people the freedom they need. We need to get government out of the way of hardworking people so that we can create jobs in this country. This is what regulatory reform is all about, and it will be one of the highest priorities of this new unified Republican government.”