House Passes Judiciary Committee Bills in Comprehensive Jobs Package

Washington, D.C. – Today the House of Representatives passed the Jobs for America Act, the House’s bipartisan jobs package comprised of 15 bills that previously passed the House this Congress. Six Judiciary Committee bills were included in the package. Together, these Judiciary Committee bills would place a ban on Internet access taxes, encourage accountability in government by requiring Congressional approval for new major regulations, and reform government by reducing unnecessary red tape. More information about these bills may be found below.

• H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act: Introduced by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), this legislation permanently bans state taxes on Internet access and multiple or discriminatory state taxes on e-commerce. Over the past 16 years, Congress has temporarily extended this ban on states taxing Internet access on multiple occasions. The measures have been met with enormous bipartisan support – only five “no” votes were cast in the history of these renewals in the House and Senate. This bill makes this ban permanent. Without this legislation, the ban would end this year.

• H.R. 2122, the Regulatory Accountability Act: Introduced by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), this legislation requires federal bureaucrats to think through new regulations better and with more public input and to adopt the least costly method of effectively implementing the law.

• H.R. 2542, the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act: Introduced by Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), this legislation requires federal bureaucrats to better consider and lower adverse impacts on small businesses before they issue new regulations.

• H.R. 367, the REINS Act: Introduced by Congressman Todd Young (R-Ind.), this legislation requires federal agencies to submit major regulations to Congress for approval and guarantees that no major regulations become effective until Congress approves them. This bill holds federal bureaucrats accountable for imposing burdens on America’s economy and strengthens our system of checks and balances.

• H.R. 2804, the All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act: Introduced by Congressman George Holding (R-N.C.), this legislation requires bureaucrats to provide more timely, detailed information and greater transparency regarding planned or proposed regulations and prevents new rules from taking effect if they fail to do so.

• H.R. 1493, the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act: Introduced by Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.), this legislation prevents secret settlement deals between federal agencies and pro-regulatory plaintiffs that result in new federal regulations for everyone.

Chairman Goodlatte praised today’s vote by the House of Representatives:

Chairman Goodlatte: “I am pleased that the House passed six Judiciary Committee bills in the jobs package today. America needs these solutions. The effects of excessive, unnecessary regulation and taxes are real for American families who are impacted by high prices, fewer job opportunities and a less competitive American and who feel the government digging deeper and deeper into their pocketbooks. I urge the Senate and President Obama to take action on the jobs package and make these important bills the Law of the Land.”

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