On the recordJanuary 11, 2017
I thank the gentleman from Louisiana, and I support his amendment. Mr. Chairman, many of the reforms in title I of the bill focus on assuring better decisionmaking and cost control for major rules-- typically, those that impose more than $100 million or more per year in costs. One of these reforms is the commonsense requirement that an agency, when it publishes a major rule, include a plan for reviewing how the rule is working within 10 years. A focus of that review is to determine whether it is possible, after the rule has been put into practice, to find new ways to lower the rule's costs. The gentleman's amendment speeds this process up, requiring review within 5 years, and increases Congress' oversight, requiring reports by agencies to Congress on their reviews. Most importantly, the amendment requires that, if an agency's report to Congress shows the rule's costs in practice are higher than anticipated at promulgation, the agency must institute a notice-and-comment process aimed at identifying revisions that can lower costs. This is a measure that can only strengthen the bill's effectiveness and help lower unnecessary burdens on the American people. I support the amendment.
