[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 111 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7740-H7741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ACT

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th 
anniversary of the enactment of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
  Over 20 years ago, several Members of this House, along with Members 
from the other body, worked tirelessly and in a bipartisan fashion to 
advance the interests of small businesses caught in the endless stream 
of new regulations pouring out of the Federal government. Regulatory 
agencies and executive departments were constantly advancing new 
regulations with a one-size-fits-all

[[Page H7741]]

approach. This approach to regulation was destroying our small 
businesses.
  A handful of visionaries came to the rescue with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act which is often referred to as the magna carta of small 
business rights. It was advanced in a bipartisan manner by a group of 
individuals who deserve our praise today.
  Members of the House who led the charge back then were Andy Ireland, 
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) and Neal Smith. Their 
colleagues in the Senate were John Culver and Gaylord Nelson. From the 
business community, there were many individuals who contributed to this 
effort, most notably John Motley and former Congressman Mike McKevitt. 
And, of course, as with most things we do, there was exceptional staff 
work done on making the Regulatory Flexibility Act a reality, most 
notably the contributions of then the House Committee on Small Business 
staffer, Stephen P. Lynch.
  Happy birthday Reg Flex Act.

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