NC Florida News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 14, 2023, H.R. 277—the REINS Act—passed the United States House of Representatives.
 
This bill reasserts Congress's legislative authority and prevent excessive overreach by the executive branch in the federal rulemaking process. It would require every new "major rule" proposed by federal agencies to be approved by both the House and Senate before going into effect. The bill would also preserve Congress's authority to disapprove of a "nonmajor rule" through a joint resolution.

The REINS Act also defines a "major rule" as any federal rule or regulation that may result in: an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.
 
"I'm thrilled to see the REINS Act pass the House," said Rep. Cammack. "The REINS Act is the single largest regulatory reform in decades and will save the American people trillions each year in compliance costs. It's long past time we limit the rampant executive overreach that makes up the fourth branch of government and rein in the nameless, faceless bureaucrats in basements across Washington, D.C. I'm grateful to my colleagues for their support of this effort in seeing this bill past the finish line."
 
"The biggest spenders in Washington, D.C. are not liberals in Congress but rather the unaccountable bureaucrats spending billions with only a pen and a power trip," said Tarren Bragdon, CEO and president of the Foundation for Government Accountability. "The REINS Act would restore congressional oversight over the bureaucracy and tame inflation by putting a check on the flood of federal spending coming from the executive branch. The real policymakers in America are the army of bureaucrats—at least 2.1 million—who keep their jobs no matter who's elected. They are almost impossible to fire, they’re overwhelmingly liberal, and they exert massive control not just over the economy, but over our individual lives. The REINS Act is the lever to loosen the grip the administrative state has on our nation. Congress is right to reassert its authority and put the American people back in charge of their government."
 
"Without significant reform to America's regulatory scheme, clean energy projects and the benefits they provide to communities across the country will be delayed or forever locked away," said Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams. "Thank you to Rep. Cammack for her leadership in introducing the REINS Act, which will update our broken permitting process by providing clarity to rulemaking—creating certainty for investors and project developers and allowing completion of projects that will increase American energy security and reduce global emissions."
 
"The REINS Act clearly and concretely defines the process for congressional review of rules proposed by the Executive Branch agencies subject to the laws enacted by Congress. It allows the light of public awareness to shine on the rulemaking process for regulations yet to be for both public congressional awareness and review," said Bob Carlstrom, President of AMAC Action. "Additionally, and most importantly, it defines specific procedures for congressional approval or disapproval for both 'major' and 'non-major' rules. An appropriate allowance for presidential emergency authority to enact a rule is retained, but it is also limited in time and congressional review is still required."
 
"The REINS Act would protect Americans and American-owned businesses from unnecessary regulatory burdens and ensure a high standard of quality in the government's rule-making process. For these reasons, I urge you to support H.R. 277," said Tom Schatz, President of Council for Concerned Citizens Against Government Waste. 
 
"Constantly changing and far-reaching federal regulations make it extremely complicated for our members to source and supply needed construction materials," said Michael W. Johnson, President and CEO of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. "Recent regulatory actions from a host of agencies have led to higher construction costs and more difficult permitting conditions for the aggregates industry. The REINS Act will bring needed scrutiny to bureaucratic actions, providing a more effective and reliant regulatory process." 
 
"The Constitution vests legislative power in Congress, but the administrative state has increasingly consolidated the powers of the federal government in itself," said Star Parker and Marty Dannenfelser of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. "The REINS Act restores congressional authority and accountability by requiring Congress to approve major rules before they take effect." 
 
Senator Rand Paul is the lead sponsor of the legislation in the Senate.  

Watch Rep. Cammack's remarks on the House Floor last night here.

Original source can be found here.