Washington, D.C. –Today, Congressman Steve Austria (R–Beavercreek) voted in favor of H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. The REINS Act would require Congressional approval of any new major regulations made by a federal agency before those major rules would take effect. Major rules are defined as those that have an annual economic impact of $100 million or more; have a major increase in costs or prices; or have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or U.S. competitiveness.

“Government bureaucrats who are not accountable to the American voters or Congress have excessively enforced unnecessary and burdensome regulations that are costly for our nation’s employers and create uncertainty in the economic environment. During a time when job growth has stunted we cannot allow for an over-reach of the federal government that imposes unnecessary regulations and stifles job growth,” Austria said. “This bill will reinstate transparency and accountability to the federal regulatory process and restores regulatory authority to those who are directly accountable to the American public.”

During the month of August, Congressman Austria conducted townhalls in all eight counties in his district; listening to small business owners, farmers, and hardworking families about how unnecessary and burdensome government regulations are killing jobs. According to a recent study from the Small Business Administration annual regulatory compliance costs the U.S. economy $1.75 trillion. Last year, there were 100 major rules finalized by the Executive Branch.

In a Gallup poll conducted this October, American small business owners cited ‘complying with government regulations’ as the most important problem facing them today. “Small businesses are the life blood of our nation’s economy as these small firms create about seven of every ten new jobs in America. If we want to get serious about our nation’s unemployment crisis, we must provide certainty in the marketplace and look at how to help our job creators, and small business owners thrive,” commented Congressman Austria.

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