[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     SIGN DISCHARGE PETITION NO. 19

                                 ______


                          HON. THOMAS W. EWING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 1994

  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues a letter which many of them have received asking them to 
sign Discharge Petition No. 19.
  The letter is signed by 57 small business trade associations 
representing hundreds of thousands of small businesses in dozens of 
industries throughout the country. These associations, representing 
everything from roofers to florists to glassmakers, have come together 
because they all have one common interest. They are all affected by 
excessive Federal regulations written by Washington, DC, bureaucrats 
who do not have an adequate understanding of the small businesses they 
regulate.
  Discharge Petition No. 19 would discharge an open rule for the 
consideration of H.R. 830, the Regulatory Flexibility Amendments Act of 
1993. The Regulatory Flexibility Act [RFA] became law in 1980 and was 
designed to require Federal regulators to examine the potential impact 
of new regulations on small businesses and take steps to minimize that 
impact. However, because judicial review of the RFA was expressly 
prohibited, many Federal regulators view their compliance as voluntary 
and have virtually ignored the Act. H.R. 830 would put some ``teeth'' 
into the RFA by allowing judicial review and otherwise strengthening 
the Act.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 830 has 252 bipartisan cosponsors, well over half 
the House. Both the ranking member and the chairman of the House 
Committee on Small Business have been steadfast supporters of H.R. 830.
  Judicial review of the RFA is not only supported by a majority of the 
House and by small business groups, it is also strongly supported by 
Vice President Gore's National Performance Review [NPR]. As part of 
their effort to make Government more responsive to it's customers,'' 
the NPR studies how the RFA might make Federal regulations more 
responsive to the special circumstances of small businesses. After a 
great deal of study, the NPR concluded that judicial review was 
essential, and made this its No. 1 recommendation for the U.S. Small 
Business Administration.
  Despite strong support from a majority of the House of 
Representatives, from Vice President Gore, and from virtually all small 
business organizations, this important legislation has been held 
hostage in subcommittee. While one hearing was held on the bill last 
fall, the chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over H.R. 830 
has refused to take any further action on the bill.
  I urge my colleagues who have cosponsored H.R. 830 to demonstrate 
their continued support for this important regulatory reform 
legislation by signing Discharge Petition No. 19. Your small business 
constituents will thank you.


                                           Reg Flex Coalition,

                                                    June 24, 1994.
       Dear Representative: Because you are a cosponsor of H.R. 
     830, the Regulatory Flexibility Amendments Act of 1993, we 
     are writing to ask that you sign Discharge Petition #19, 
     which would discharge H. Res. 415, an open rule for the 
     consideration of H.R. 830.
       Small businesses and local governments have seen the level 
     of federal regulation increase dramatically in recent years. 
     While many federal regulations are meant to protect public 
     health and safety, we believe that federal agencies have not 
     taken adequate steps to find ways to minimize the impact of 
     regulations on small businesses and governments. H.R. 830 can 
     help solve this problem.
       The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) was designed to 
     address the fact that regulations disproportionately affect 
     small businesses and small governmental entities. The RFA 
     requires federal agencies to study the impact that 
     regulations may have on small entities and find ways to 
     minimize those effects. However, because the Act does not 
     allow judicial review of agency compliance, most federal 
     agencies have ignored the Act for the past fourteen years. 
     H.R. 830 would give the RFA the ``teeth'' it needs by 
     allowing judicial review.
       Legislation to provide judicial review of the RFA is 
     strongly supported by the small business community and small 
     local governments, and we are pleased that over 250 House 
     members have cosponsored H.R. 830. Federal regulatory 
     agencies have ignored this important common-sense act for too 
     long, and we believe the time to take action to strengthen 
     the RFA is now.
       Vice President Gore's National Performance Review (NPR) 
     examined agency compliance with the RFA. After a careful 
     study, the NPR concluded that judicial review of the RFA was 
     necessary, and made this its number one recommendation for 
     the Small Business Administration.
       Throughout the fourteen years since the RFA became law, the 
     House and Senate Small Business Committees have held 
     oversight hearings on RFA implementation. Each of these 
     hearings has led us to the conclusion that the only way to 
     force regulatory agencies to start complying with this 
     important law is to provide for judicial review.
       You have already indicated your support for strengthening 
     the RFA by cosponsoring H.R. 830. We ask that you continue 
     support by signing Discharge Petition #19, so that this 
     legislation may be debated and voted on by the full House.
       Your small business and local governmment constituents will 
     thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please 
     contact Eric Nicoll in Representative Tom Ewing's office at 
     225-2371.
           Sincerely,
       Air Conditioning Contractors of America.
       American Association of Nurserymen.
       American Boiler Manufacturers Association.
       American Portland Cement Alliance.
       American Road & Transportation Builders Association.
       American Small Business Association.
       American Subcontractors Association.
       American Trucking Associations.
       Associated Builders and Contractors.
       Associated General Contractors of America.
       Associated Landscape Contractors of America.
       Associated Specialty Contractors.
       Automotive Parts & Accessories Association.
       Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association.
       Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association.
       Business Advertising Council, Inc.
       Council of Fleet Specialists.
       Florist's Transworld Delivery Association.
       Independent Business Association of Illinois.
       Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.
       International Council of Shopping Centers.
       International Dairy Foods Association.
       Mason Contractors Association of America.
       Mechanical Contractors Association of America.
       National Aggregates Association.
       National Association for the Self-Employed.
       National Association of Manufacturers.
       National Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling 
     Contractors.
       National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
       National Association of Towns and Townships.
       National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
       National Electrical Contractors Association.
       National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
       National Federation of Independent Business.
       National Glass Association.
       National Insulation and Abatement Contractors Association.
       National Pest Control Association.
       National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.
       National Restaurant Association.
       National Roofing Contractors Association.
       National Small Business United.
       National Society of Public Accountants.
       National Stone Association.
       National Tooling and Machining Association.
       National Utility Contractors Association.
       Northeast Texas Nursery Growers.
       Painting and Decorating Contractors of America.
       Professional Lawn Care Association of America.
       Resilient Floor Covering Institute.
       Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors' National 
     Association.
       Smmall Business Exporters Association.
       Small Business Legislative Council.
       Society of American Florists.
       Texas Association of Nurserymen.
       The Refractories Institute.
       The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.
       U.S. Chamber of Commmerce.

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