On the recordFebruary 2, 2016
as the ranking member of the committee on homeland security, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Our friend who is offering this amendment today indicates that Federal agencies are always promulgating regulations, and we never stand any of them down; we never retire them. As it turns out, about 5 or 6 years ago, President Obama said to Cass Sunstein, who runs OIRA, part of OMB: I want you to begin a top-to-bottom review of regulations. Find the ones that don't serve a purpose, and let's get rid of them. Over the next 5 years, that effort will bear fruit. It is not like saving a couple of million dollars. Over the next 5 years, it is going to save $22 billion. So we actually do have a process, and this is one that has really been provided by leadership from the administration. The other avenue was provided by our Democratic leader from years ago when he authored something called the Congressional Review Act. It is not always effective; it doesn't always work, but it is actually a way to stand down regulations that we don't want to see stood up. So there are two ways to do this. We always have an opportunity whenever regulations are proposed. We can speak to them. We can testify to them. We can urge that they be changed while they are in production. I urge us to vote no on this amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
