TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, urges you to support H.R. 10, the “Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act,” which would improve the quality of both Congressional oversight and agency actions, restore the historic relationship between Congress and the federal agencies, and ensure all branches of the federal government are accountable to the American people.
According to the Small Business Administration, the annual cost of federal regulations in the United States increased to more than $1.75 trillion in 2008. Hundreds of federal agencies write thousands of new rules every year.
The cost of these rules continues to rise. As President Obama acknowledged in Executive Order 13563, federal rules must be tailored so as to impose the least burden on society, consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives, while taking into account the cumulative cost of regulation.
H.R. 10 would address these concerns by returning Congress to its proper role relative to the agencies. Congress would reclaim control of the rule-making authority that is delegated to agencies. This bill would require both houses of Congress to affirmatively approve, and the president to sign, any new “major rule” – i.e., a rule with a projected impact to the economy of over $100 million – before it could become effective. Therefore, its enactment would begin to restore the balance between Congress and the administrative agencies and help ensure that all branches of the Federal government are accountable to the American people.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 10. The Chamber urges you to approve H.R. 10. The Chamber may consider including votes on, or in relation to, H.R. 10 in our annual How They Voted scorecard.
Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten
Executive vice president of government affairs
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
