On the recordDecember 7, 2011
As an administrator and policymaker at the local, state, and federal levels, I have often seen the value of common-sense regulations that save lives. I have also seen the challenges associated with cumbersome regulations that can sometimes appear to be bureaucracy at its worst. However, in my experience, regulations tend to be less stringent than necessary rather than overly strict. While I am very open to discussing how we can make regulations more effective and efficient, I am extremely disappointed with the anti-regulatory agenda of the House leadership. Congress today considers yet another attack on our government's basic ability to enforce laws that protect public health and the environment. Every major law requires enforcement by the executive branch of government, and enforcement requires agencies to write regulations that explain and make public how that agency is going to enforce the law. The bills under consideration by the House will stop the regulatory process in its tracks. Agencies will not be able to enforce new laws or complete updates to regulations as required by existing laws, such as the Clean Air Act. H.R. 10, the REINS Act, requires both the House and the Senate to vote on every major regulation before that regulation can be enforced, providing only seventy days to do it. This will allow either house of Congress to effectively veto any major regulation that would enforce a law already passed by Congress merely by taking no action. H.R.…
