[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2017)]
[House]
[Page H395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     WE HAVE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Lewis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say how 
incredibly proud I am to be representing Minnesota's Second District. 
It is an honor that I do not take lightly, and I am excited to get to 
work for my constituents.
  Here in the House we have hit the ground running. During my first 2 
weeks in Congress, we took steps to jump-start our economy by 
addressing the massive web of regulations that were issued by unelected 
and unaccountable bureaucrats in the administration. In fact, 2016 was 
a record-breaking year for Federal agencies. Unfortunately, the record 
they set is not a good one.
  In 2016 alone, there were 3,853 finalized rules and regulations, 
amounting to 97,110 pages. That is more than any year in history. Based 
on the page numbers alone, this amount of regulations may seem 
staggering, but the economic costs are even more damaging. In 2015, 
regulations cost American consumers and small businesses an estimated 
$1.88 trillion in lost economic productivity and higher prices.
  Many in Washington have started to call Federal regulators the fourth 
branch of government, unelected branch of government when it comes from 
the agencies. For too long, these regulators have run rampant, hurting 
our small businesses, stifling job growth, and hampering our economy. 
In fact, we have had one of the slowest economic recoveries coming out 
of a severe recession in modern times.
  That is why, last week, I was proud to join my colleagues in passing 
the REINS Act and the Midnight Rules Relief Act. Additionally, this 
week we passed the Regulatory Accountability Act. Today I am proud to 
introduce my first piece of legislation, the Reforming Executive 
Guidance Act. This will further increase transparency and ensure that 
regulatory agencies are held accountable for their actions.
  My bill will ensure that significant guidance documents promulgated 
by the regulatory agencies are subject to congressional review. These 
guidance documents are only meant to clarify regulations. However, over 
the years, executive agencies have used these guidance documents more 
and more often to expand their power and make significant policy 
changes. We are the accountable branch who are to make those policy 
changes. These policy changes are negatively affecting our businesses 
and imposing these significant costs on our economy.
  My bill simply ensures that significant guidance documents are fully 
subject to the Congressional Review Act and the Administrative 
Procedure Act's notice and comment requirement. Not only does this 
increase congressional oversight, it also increases transparency, as 
the public will now have the ability to review these guidance documents 
before they are finalized. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this straightforward, commonsense legislation.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues throughout the 115th 
Congress as we address the major issues facing the American people.

                          ____________________