[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 126 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

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                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2007

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Congressional 
Responsibility and Accountability Act. This bill requires Congress to 
specifically authorize via legislation any proposed federal regulation 
that will impose costs on any individual of at least $5,000, impose 
costs on a business or other private organization of at least $25,000, 
or impose aggregate costs on the American people of at least $250,000, 
or cause any American to lose his or her job.
  According to some legal experts, at least three-quarters of all 
federal laws consist of regulations promulgated by federal agencies 
without the consent, or even the review of, Congress. Allowing 
unelected, and thus unaccountable, executive agencies to make law 
undermines democracy. Law-making by executive agencies also violates 
the intent of the drafters of the Constitution to separate legislative 
and executive powers. The drafters of the Constitution correctly viewed 
separation of powers as a cornerstone of republican government and a 
key to protecting individual liberty from excessive and arbitrary 
government power.
  Congress's delegation of lawmaking authority to unelected bureaucrats 
has created a system that seems to owe more to the writings of Franz 
Kafka than to the writings of James Madison. The volume of regulations 
promulgated by federal agencies and the constant introduction of new 
rules makes it impossible for most Americans to know with any certainty 
the federal laws, regulations, and rules they are required to obey. 
Thus, almost all Americans live with the danger that they may be hauled 
before a federal agency for an infraction they have no reasonable way 
of knowing is against the law.
  While it is easy for Members of Congress to complain about out of 
control federal bureaucrats, it was Congress that gave these agencies 
the ability to create laws. Since Congress created the problem of 
lawmaking by regulatory agencies, it is up to Congress to fix the 
problem and make certain that all federal laws are passed by the 
people's elected representatives. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor the Congressional Responsibility and 
Accountability Act.

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