Virginia Foxx: “This amendment is relatively simple in that it adds consideration of unfunded mandates to the Commission's review of…”

“This amendment is relatively simple in that it adds consideration of unfunded mandates to the Commission's review of existing rules. Each year, Washington imposes thousands of rules and regulations. Rather than following the rules themselves and asking for funds for new programs, regulators pass the cost along to others by requiring the private sector, as well as State and local governments, to pay for new Federal initiatives through compliance costs. {time} 1900 These costly mandates make it harder for companies to hire and for cash-strapped States, counties, and cities to keep streets safe and parks clean. My amendment asks the commission to consider in its review whether unfunded mandates imposed in existing regulations are economically defensible and the least burdensome policy option available. Federal agencies often advance Federal Government initiatives without using Federal taxpayer dollars by imposing regulations on local governments or the private sector. This simple amendment ensures that costs passed to State and local governments or to the private sector are both necessary and minimal. I reserve the balance of my time.”