[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 39 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E411-E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           H.R. 1074 THE REGULATORY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM BLILEY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 1999

  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing H.R. 1074, the 
Regulatory Right-to-Know Act of 1999. The Regulatory Right-to-Know Act 
is an important tool to understand the magnitude and impact of Federal 
regulatory programs. The Act will provide all Americans, including 
state and local officials, with new tools to help them participate more 
fully and improve our government. Better information and public input 
will help regulators ensure better, more accountable decisions and 
promote greater confidence in the quality of federal policy and 
regulatory decisions. Better decisions and updated programs will help 
Americans enhance innovation, improve the quality of our environment, 
make our families safer, improve our economic security, and improve the 
quality of life.
  Mr. Speaker, we know the right steps. Over the past four years, this 
Congress has changed the direction of Federal Government from the 
endless burden of more taxes and spending to the new fiscal discipline 
of balance and accountability. For the past decade the genius of 
freedom and innovation has driven American businesses through a quality 
and productivity revolution. The result of this drive toward efficiency 
and accountability is an American economy which is the unparalleled 
envy of the world. The freedom and innovation of millions of Americans 
in private businesses have brought incredible improvements to our 
quality of life, health care, education, and prosperity. Through the 
new emphasis on flexibility and innovation, State and local officials 
have led the way to safer, cleaner and more prosperous places to live. 
We in Congress must be the allies of state and local government, 
American business and families through responsible management of the 
Nation's regulatory programs to ensure quality in necessary regulation 
and even greater freedom from unwise regulation.
  To do our jobs we must first understand the impact of Federal 
regulatory programs on our economy and innovation. In addition to 
taxes, the Federal Government imposes tremendous costs and restrictions 
on innovation on the private sector, State and local governments and, 
ultimately, the public through ever increasing Federal regulations. 
Here too we must drive toward quality, efficiency and accountability.
  Some estimates place the compliance costs from Federal regulatory 
programs at more than $680 billion annually and project substantial 
growth even without new legislation. These costs are often hidden in 
increased prices for goods and services, loss of competitiveness in the 
global economy, lack of investment in job growth, and pressure on the 
ability of State and local governments to fund essential services, such 
as crime prevention and education. More recently we have heard mayors 
decry the effect that unwise Federal regulations have on the problems 
of brownfields redevelopment and preventing reinvestment in our urban 
areas. As a former mayor of Richmond I am familiar with and very 
sympathetic to these problems.
  Unlike the private sector, where freedom of contract and free market 
competition drive price and quality, Federal programs are only 
accountable through the political process. Over the past few decades 
both Congress and the Executive Branch have driven growth in Federal 
regulatory programs, creating layer upon layer of bureaucracy at great 
cost and often with diminishing returns for the American people. 
Congress and the Executive Branch must take concrete steps to manage 
and reform these programs. The Regulatory Right-to-Know Act is a 
fundamental building block for a smarter partnership in federal 
regulatory programs. The leadership we show or fail to show will affect 
the quality of life for ourselves and our children.
  Bipartisan organizations representing the Nation's governors, mayors, 
professional city managers, county officials and others are unanimous 
in their support for the Regulatory Right-to-Know Act. Citizens for a 
Sound Economy, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the 
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, 
and

[[Page E412]]

many others agree that the American taxpayers and consumers have the 
right-to-know the costs and benefits of federal regulations, and have 
endorsed the Regulatory Right-to-Know Act of 1999.
  I would like to thank Mr. McIntosh, Mr. Condit, Mr. Stenholm and 
others for their leadership on this bill in the 104th, 105th, and 106th 
Congresses. As evidenced by the original co-sponsorship list, the 
Regulatory Right-to-Know Act of 1999 has broad bipartisan support. 
Senator Thompson and Senator Breaux have provided leadership in the 
Senate and have, once again, introduced the analogue to the Regulatory 
Right-to-Know Act.
  The legislation changes no regulatory standard. It will, however, 
provide vital information to Congress and the Executive branch so they 
may fulfill their obligation to ensure wise expenditure of limited 
national economic resources and improve our regulatory system. Let's 
not forget that a tax or consumer dollar spent on a wasteful program is 
a dollar that cannot be spent on teachers, police officers or health 
care. If we are serious about openness, the public's right to know, 
accountability, and fulfilling our responsibility as managers, we will 
enact this important piece of legislation.

                          ____________________