A report from the Small Business Administration pegged the cost of compliance to federal regulations at a staggering $1.75 trillion — or roughly $15,000 per household in the United States.

REG’S IN THE NEWS:

The Daily Caller: Who’s regulating the regulators? (Thursday, June 30, 2011)

The Washington Examiner: Cutting government red tape produces new jobs (Sunday, June 26, 2011)
“…federal regulatory bureaucracy is a tremendous drag on the economy, diverting and destroying the very precious investment capital that is essential to generating the growth that creates jobs that pay the taxes that fund the government.”

The San Francisco Examiner: NLRB rules stack deck against business (Monday, June 27, 2011)
“It’s going to catch a lot of employers off guard who don’t know what the process is. They’re going to make stupid mistakes. ... A lot of these companies will not survive, especially smaller ones.”

The Hill: The Labor Board is trying to muzzle employers, really? (Friday, June 24, 2011)
According to the board’s critics, delaying litigation and speeding up access to information on election issues will mean that employees will only get to hear one side of the story – the union side – and thus make uninformed and unwise choices.

HOUSE GOP SOLUTIONS TO JOB-KILLING REGULATIONS:

Rep. Griffith introduces the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250)

Rep. Garrett introduces bill to ensure SEC Regulations are more effective and less burdensome (H.R. 2308)

Rep. Garner introduces bill to streamline energy permitting (H.R. 2021)

Rep. Davis introduces the REINS Act To restore Congressional accountability for the regulatory process (H.R. 10)

Chairman Upton introduces and the House passes the Energy Tax Prevention Act a bill to block EPA’s controversial backdoor climate change agenda (H.R. 910)

Rep. Noem introduces bill to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from burdening farmers, ranchers and small business owners in rural America with additional dust regulations (H.R. 1633)

Rep. Blackburn introduces the Internet Freedom Act stating that regulation of the Internet is the sole prerogative of Congress. (H.R. 96)

Chairman Hastings introduces and the House passes the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (H.R. 1230)

Chairman Hastings introduces the Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act (H.R. 1231)

CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT ACTION:

FCC Net Neutrality Rule
The FCC has proposed rules that would allow the federal government to act as a gatekeeper and prohibit broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing Web traffic.  These new FCC rules would restrict access to the Internet and stall innovation in our country, further damaging the economy and hindering job creation.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-09/pdf/2011-11137.pdf
Resolution of disapproval-H.J. Res. 37: Rep. Greg Walden, *Resolution was passed by the House on Friday April 8, 2011 by a vote of 240-179.

Final EPA Rule Disapproving of the State of Texas’s Flexible Permitting Program
The EPA has issued a final rule in response to an interim final rule issued in December of 2010.  Just like the interim rule, this rule seeks to strip the state of Texas of its legal authority under the landmark 1973 Clean Air Act to write and enforce regulations at the state level to meet the requirements of the federal environmental law.  This rule would be a massive job killer for Texas and sets a dangerous precedent nationwide.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-03/pdf/2011-10285.pdf
Resolution of disapproval: TBD
Game Clock Deadline = Estimate October 1, 2011

*The Congressional Review Act allows Congress 60 legislative days from the time a final regulation is presented to block the new rule with a simple resolution of disapproval passed by the House and Senate and signed by the President.  Unlike legislation, a CRA resolution cannot be filibustered in the Senate and must be brought up for a straight vote with the co-sponsorship of just 30 Senators, making the CRA the most effective legislative tool in the 112th Congress to overcome Senate deadlock.

Contacts:
Casey Hogan – Regulations Legislative Assistant
John Stone – Communications
(202) 225-3864  |