Agricultural News
Regulatory Reform Clears US House
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 20:20:03 CST
Congressman Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., today made the following remarks on the floor of the House in support of the Peterson Amendment to the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 (H.R. 5). Both the amendment and underlying bill were adopted by the House.
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
"Thank you Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the amendment. This amendment will prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer dollars to advocate on behalf of a rule or generate comments to overwhelm the record with one point of view.
"A GAO report documents how the EPA created a campaign to generate comments in support of the Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, rule. This is not how government, or the rulemaking process, is supposed to work.
"The comment period should be a time for agencies to hear from the public about what's good, what's bad or what needs to be fixed with a proposed rule. In my opinion, agencies too often take laws passed by Congress and turn them into something unrecognizable.
"That is why this amendment is needed and has the support of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Association of Wheat Growers and the National Association of Home Builders, among others.
"This is a common-sense amendment that will improve the bill. I urge my colleagues to vote in support and reserve the balance of my time."
The amendment and the underlying bill passed the House- the final vote on H.R. 5 was 238 to 183.
According to the House Judicary Committee website, "The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 is strong, bipartisan reform to solve the problem of overreaching, ill-considered, insufficiently checked-and-balanced federal regulation. It brings together six separate reform bills that have already passed the House with bipartisan support in previous Congresses. Collectively, its provisions would:
"Require agencies to choose the lowest-cost rulemaking alternative that meets statutory objectives, permitting costlier rules only when cost-justified and needed to protect public health, safety, or welfare. (Title I Regulatory Accountability Act, introduced by Chairman Goodlatte)
"Require greater opportunity for public input and vetting of critical information especially for major and billion-dollar rules. (Title I Regulatory Accountability Act)
"Repeal the Chevronand Auer doctrines to end judicial deference to overreaching agency statutory and regulatory interpretations. (Title II Separation of Powers Restoration Act, introduced by Rep. Ratcliffe)
"Require agencies to account for the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of new regulations on small businesses and find flexible ways to reduce them. (Title III Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, introduced by Chairman Chabot)
"Prohibit new billion-dollar rules from taking effect until courts can resolve timely-filed litigation challenging their promulgation. (Title IV REVIEW Act, introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Marino)
"Force agencies to publish online, timely information about regulations in development and their expected nature, cost and timing. (Title V ALERT Act, introduced by Rep. Ratcliffe)
"Publish plain-language, online summaries of new proposed rules, so the public can understand what agencies actually propose to do. (Title VI Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Luetkemeyer)
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