Sensenbrenner, Armstrong, Collins introduce REINS Act

WASHINGTON — Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, along with Reps. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) and Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS Act). The REINS Act restores Congressional authority over major regulations imposed by the U.S. government because it prevents executive agencies from unilaterally promulgating regulations that have an impact of $100 million or more per year. Under the REINS Act, Congress and the president must approve rules with such a major economic impact. “Article I of the Constitution, in its very first words, gives Congress the federal government’s legislative power, yet federal agencies routinely try to impose burdensome financial consequences without congressional input. That’s not right,”said Collins. “The REINS Act targets substantial regulatory abuses by the executive branch, and it would prevent agencies from enacting rules that have a major economic impact without congressional and presidential approval. I appreciate the leadership of Congressmen Sensenbrenner and Armstrong in introducing this critical legislation, and I encourage Chairman Nadler to take up this commonsense bill.”  “It is time for Congress to reclaim its Article I authority by restoring the constitutional balance of power. The American people deserve a more direct say in regulations that could impact their everyday lives. The REINS Act would place a desperately needed check on unelected bureaucrats, saving taxpayers money,” said Sensenbrenner. “We’ve made great strides in growing the economy and increasing people’s take-home pay through historic tax cuts and regulatory reform. Now, Congress must take action to rein in the growth of bureaucratic red tape permanently. I’m proud to sponsor this important bill and thank Congressmen Collins and Armstrong for lending their support to this effort.”“This bill reasserts Congress’s role in writing laws and increases accountability to the American people by requiring congressional approval of regulations that would cost the economy over $100 million, drastically increase costs for consumers, or otherwise harm the economy," said Armstrong. "Reining in the unelected bureaucracy will save taxpayer dollars and keep the economy growing.”