Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the REINS Act.

The REINS Act is needed, frankly, because for decades now Congress has abdicated its responsibility for lawmaking to unelected Federal elites in the executive branch. They often create overbearing regulations that stifle innovation, reduce productivity, prevent businesses from growing and adding jobs, and increase prices on everything from gasoline to groceries. Don't get me wrong; some regulations are good and necessary, but they come with substantial cost, and there is not enough accountability for them.

I would look forward to voting for good regulations, and I would think my colleagues across the aisle would also look forward to voting for good regulations and taking credit for them. At this moment, however, the Obama administration has regulations in the pipeline that could cost the American people more than $50 billion. The Competitive Enterprise Institute estimates the regulatory burden to be almost $15,000 a year per family. Another study estimates that just six EPA regulations will cause the loss of almost 10 million jobs.

These rules are written by unelected elites with very little accountability to individual citizens across my district in western Pennsylvania, from Ellwood City to Lower Burrell to Somerset.

The REINS Act requires your elected representatives to be more accountable for regulations. Very simply, if the regulations will cost Americans more than $100 million, then Congress has to vote on it. Good regulations will be approved, and others will not. But your representative will have to declare a position, and you can hold them accountable for their votes.

Mr. Chairman, the REINS Act makes sense to me, it makes sense to my constituents in western Pennsylvania, and I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

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