On the recordDecember 1, 2011
I oppose this amendment because it carves out an exception to the bill for regulations under the Food and Drug Administration. If agencies were doing the depth of pre-regulatory analysis they are supposed to be doing under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, then we wouldn't be here today. Small businesses create jobs, and jobs are the key to economic recovery. To help small businesses--like minority-owned restaurants, for example--create jobs, we need to reduce, not increase, the regulatory burden on them. The FDA is not currently exempt from the Regulatory Flexibility Act, so it makes no sense to exempt the FDA from the bill, either. This amendment also would create confusion within the FDA by exempting only its responsibilities under the Food Safety Modernization Act from this bill. There should not be two versions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act in play at the FDA. For these reasons, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.
