[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 144]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RELIEF FROM EXCESSIVE EXECUTIVE ORDERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Webster of Florida). The Chair 
recognizes the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, for the past 8 years, President Barack 
Obama has used his pen and phone to create a fourth branch of 
government that overreaches through executive orders and Federal rules 
and regulations. But today is a new day--a day when this Congress 
begins to dismantle this fourth branch of government and drain the 
swamp in Washington.
  Through the entirety of this President's administration, Republicans 
have fought against out-of-control growth of Federal bureaucracy and 
rules and regulations that have suffocated the American economy. The 
last time I checked, the President's job was to enforce existing laws 
and work with the elected Members of Congress whose responsibility it 
is to pass laws as the people's representatives. Instead, I believe he 
has undermined not only our Constitution but also the American people 
through this executive power grab.
  It is time to get rid of the Washington-knows-best, top-down, one-
size-fits-all rules like the EPA's waters of the U.S., the Clean Power 
Plan, the Department of Labor's overtime rule and restrictions on your 
retirement savings. These regulations have consequences, and what these 
bureaucrats do have, consequences. In 2015 alone, the Federal 
Government leveled 3,400 regulations on Americans. Those regulations 
cost us $1.9 trillion in lost productivity and growth--a cost of 
$15,000 per American household.
  Now, for the first time during my tenure serving the Second 
Congressional District of Missouri, Congress has a unique opportunity. 
This week we will pass a bill that I have had the pleasure of 
cosponsoring and voted for twice before--the REINS Act, and I expect it 
to become law. The REINS Act puts power back in the hands of the people 
as Congress--the people's House--can implement an up-or-down vote on 
any new major rule before they can take effect. Congress should decide 
what rules are necessary for our constituents--not unelected 
bureaucrats.
  We will also pass this week the Midnight Rules Relief Act which will 
allow Congress to stop the Obama administration's last minute 
regulations from taking effect as they turn out the lights and head out 
the door.
  The American people spoke loud and clear: They want results. They are 
tired of working harder for less money and tired of wondering how they 
will make ends meet at the end of every month. They have had enough and 
are tired of the constant chipping away of their freedoms.
  Taken together, these two bills clearly demonstrate that this 
Republican Congress is unified and will work with President-elect Trump 
to help alleviate the day-to-day burdens felt by Americans across the 
country. By passing these bills, we are demonstrating that we are 
listening to our constituents and we are telling them that their 
elected representatives are in charge, not Washington bureaucrats.

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