Congressman Barry Moore voted Thursday in favor of H.R. 277, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. This legislation would require every new “major rule” proposed by federal agencies to be approved by the House and Senate before going into effect.
The REINS Act defines a “major rule” as any federal rule or regulation that may result in: an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, government industries, government agencies, or geographic regions; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.
“In the first year of his administration alone, Biden added more than $200 billion in regulatory costs to our economy through rulemaking,” said Moore. “Biden and his army of bureaucrats are on a mission to enact their radical agenda without the consent of taxpayers. The REINS act would hold Biden and his bureaucrats accountable by forcing them to answer to representatives elected by the American people, and it also holds those representatives accountable by requiring them take a vote on how tax dollars will be spent.”
H.R. 277 is sponsored by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Florida).
“The REINS Act is the single largest regulatory reform in decades and will save the American people trillions each year in compliance costs,” Cammack said. “It’s long past time we limit the rampant executive overreach that makes up the fourth branch of government and rein in the nameless, faceless bureaucrats in basements across Washington, D.C. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support of this effort in seeing this bill past the finish line.”
This bill reasserts Congress’s legislative authority and prevents excessive overreach by the executive branch in the federal rulemaking process. It would require every new “major rule” proposed by federal agencies to be approved by both the House and Senate before going into effect. The bill would also preserve Congress’s authority to disapprove of a “nonmajor rule” through a joint resolution.
Michael W. Johnson is the President and CEO of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association.
“Constantly changing and far-reaching federal regulations make it extremely complicated for our members to source and supply needed construction materials,” said President Johnson. “Recent regulatory actions from a host of agencies have led to higher construction costs and more difficult permitting conditions for the aggregates industry. The REINS Act will bring needed scrutiny to bureaucratic actions, providing a more effective and reliant regulatory process.”
The National Education Association however opposes the bill.
“These provisions are unnecessary as well as unwise,” wrote NEA Director of Government Relations Marc Egan. “The Congressional Review Act already allows Congress to halt implementation of regulations; it can also decide not to fund a program. Moreover, the separation of powers is fundamental to our Constitution: the legislative branch creates the programs that the executive branch implements through federal agencies. The regulatory process is neither simple nor quick—and that is at it should be. The process of formulating regulations, guidance, and rules for implementing federal programs must be informed by the voices of experts, practitioners, and impacted parties, as well as scientific data and other relevant information. In contrast, the REINS Act would facilitate halting or preventing action for any reason—or no reason at all.”
H.R. 277—the REINS Act—passed the United States House of Representatives on Thursday 221 to 210.
“I’m thrilled to see the REINS Act pass the House,” said Rep. Cammack.
The bill now goes to the Senate where Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is the lead sponsor of the legislation in the Senate. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is a Senate cosponsor.
“Under the Constitution, Congress is supposed to write our laws,” said Sen. Tuberville. “But the Biden administration keeps trying to run the country out of the White House. I’m not going to stand for that. This legislation would ensure that any regulation with a major impact on our country would go through Congress like the Constitution says.”
The White House released a statement opposing the legislation.
“The Administration strongly opposes passage of H.R. 277, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023. Agency regulations execute legislation to grow the economy, raise wages, lower costs, reduce gun crime and make our communities safer, keep our air and water clean, promote safe and reliable transportation, and protect workers and families. The Nation faces serious challenges, and this Administration’s policy is to mobilize the power of the Federal Government to address those issues swiftly and effectively. Congress has explicitly charged Federal agencies with the responsibility and the authority to act, but the REINS Act of 2023 would undermine agencies’ efforts by inserting into the regulatory process an unwieldy, unnecessary, and time-consuming hurdle that would prevent implementation of critical safeguards that protect public safety, grow our economy, and advance the public interest. If Congress were to pass H.R. 277, the President would veto it.”
Barry Moore is in his second term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
