[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN OPPOSITION TO H.R. 185, THE REGULATORY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 26, 2015

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 185, 
the so-called ``Regulatory Accountability Act.''
  Today's bill is yet another attempt by House Republicans to limit the 
ability of federal agencies to enforce commonsense rules and 
regulations. While supporters of this rehashed bill claim it is needed 
to curb overregulation, in reality, it would simply prevent federal 
agencies from doing their jobs and working to ensure there are 
safeguards in place to protect consumer health and safety. In fact, 
H.R. 185 would create more red tape by imposing over 60 new barriers in 
the federal rulemaking process.
  One of the most burdensome provisions in this legislation requires 
agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis for all proposed rules and 
possible alternatives, even if the rule is limited in scope and has a 
minimal economic impact. Moreover, agencies would be obligated to adopt 
the option that was the least costly in the short term, without taking 
into account the long term impact and costs it would have on public 
health and safety. This is a myopic way to govern and would create 
paralysis within the rulemaking process.
  President Obama has already implemented significant reforms to the 
rulemaking process. In January 2010, the President signed an Executive 
Order that required agencies to determine if the benefits of proposed 
rules are justified considering their cost to society. He required an 
interagency review of overlapping rules and regulation between agencies 
that may prevent innovation in the private sector and instituted a 
policy to allow agencies to consider input from affected public and 
private stakeholders and experts when developing rules and regulations. 
Moreover, federal agencies under President Obama issued significantly 
less rules during his first four years in office when compared to 
President Bush's first term.
  At a time when Congress should be doing everything it can to create 
jobs and improve the economy, this bill is nothing but a distraction. I 
urge my colleagues to oppose it.

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