[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          SUPPORT FOR THE RISK ASSESSMENT AND COST-BENEFIT ACT

  (Mr. STENHOLM asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, as a long-time supporter of small 
business, I rise in support of H.R. 1022, the Risk Assessment and Cost-
Benefit Act. It's simple: Risk anlaysis is good for small business.
  Small business has had to contend with a literal blizzard of 
Government regulation in virtually every aspect of their operations. It 
is not just one or two big or major impacts from regulations, it is 
also death by a thousand cuts. It is the cumulative burden of 
paperwork, planning, and other compliance requirements that are often 
overlooked in the process of creating Federal regulations that are 
especially burdensome to smaller businesses. Mechanisms like those 
contained in H.R. 1022 will help to ensure that Government considers 
the total impact of the cumulative regulatory burden.
  The small businesses impacted by many new regulations, especially in 
the environmental and worker safety area, do not have the resources to 
challenge or assess the increasingly scientific methods or exposure 
assumptions used by Federal agencies to justify new regulations.
  Discussion and provision of regulatory options and risk scenarios 
early in the regulation development process will help small business by 
focusing resources and providing at least some assistance in an 
analysis process they cannot hope to shoulder on their own behalf.
  In short, small business needs H.R. 1022 so that Federal agencies 
will be compelled to develop cost-effective regulations that will allow 
small businesses to both comply and remain economically viable.

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