[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 2 (Monday, January 18, 1993)]
[Pages 50-51]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Regulatory Reform

 January 15, 1993

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

    This Regulatory Program of the United States Government compiles, 
under one cover, my Administration's regulatory programs, goals, and 
objectives for the year 1992-93. By providing a preview of signifi- 

[[Page 51]]

cant regulatory activities, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to 
agency accountability for improved regulation, intragovernmental 
coordination, and public and congressional access to our regulatory 
agenda and priorities. Our regulatory program constitutes a coherent, 
consistent, and constructive program with unity of purpose. Our purpose 
is to promote economic growth while maintaining this Administration's 
strong tradition of upholding health, safety, and environmental quality 
as top priority.
    Federal regulations to implement the laws that safeguard the 
Nation's health and safety, environment, and economic well-being are 
essential to maintain and improve the public welfare. Excessively 
burdensome regulation, however, hampers the creativity and energy of the 
American people. Regulation should instead channel this creativity and 
energy to maximize social and economic benefits. The concepts of 
``efficiency'' and ``maximized net benefits'' guide our regulatory 
program in promoting a strong economy and protecting our citizenry.
    In my State of the Union Address, I called for a ``top-to-bottom'' 
review of Federal regulation. This occurred during our 90-day regulatory 
review and moratorium. That period was followed by a 120-day extension 
to implement significant reforms. During this 7-month period, we strove 
to eliminate many overly burdensome Federal regulations and have 
promulgated new regulations that will save American consumers and 
workers billions of dollars. We also extended the review and moratorium 
for an additional year.
    The Federal regulatory environment must be dynamic and changing to 
reflect a changing world. It must be lean and focused on specific areas 
where Federal regulation contributes to the public good. An excessive or 
static regulatory system loses its ability to solve problems and instead 
creates them by forcing individuals, businesses, and State and local 
governments into expensive compliance exercises. We have ``cleaned 
house'' by scrapping obsolete and unduly burdensome regulations; by 
modifying and updating current rules; and by implementing new rules to 
release American capital and the Nation's competitive spirit.
    Everyone pays for overly burdensome regulation. Regulatory costs 
must be reduced. This report embodies our efforts to aid in that quest.
    Sincerely,
                                                   George Bush

Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. Foley, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate.