On the recordJanuary 5, 2017
This amendment renders congressional findings on climate change and requires that agencies report to Congress on greenhouse gas impacts associated with a rule. It also requires agencies to report on a rule's effect on low-income and rural communities. Further, the amendment expands the definition of major rule to include rules that allow increases of carbon emissions by more than 25,000 metric tons per year or that might increase the risk of certain diseases in rural or low-income communities. I oppose this amendment. The REINS Act is not designed to address one or two subjects of regulation with heightened scrutiny but not others. It is to restore accountability to the people's elected representatives in Congress for the largest regulatory decisions, whatever subject is involved. Further, and consistent with that, the addition of congressional findings in one policy area--climate change--but no other, has no place in the REINS Act. I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
