Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Chair, yesterday, the House voted on H.R. 427, Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015. I was unavoidably detained, but if I had been present, I would have opposed this legislation. While the bill claims to accomplish well-meaning goals such as increasing ``accountability for and transparency in the federal regulatory process,'' it only threatens the historic separation of legislative and executive powers.

By requiring a joint resolution of approval from Congress before any ``major'' rules set forth by a federal agency come into effect, the REINS act attempts to undermine executive power and expand congressional regulatory authority. This partisan bill is a thinly vailed attempt to score political points by attacking the Obama Administration. And as Republican leaders take another ideological swipe at the Obama administration, a number of more pressing issues go unaddressed, especially as we leave for our District Work Period.

Second-guessing agency standards and rules that are supposed to be governed by Congressional laws is not only redundant but is reflective of the Republican's relentless pursuit of removing important and necessary regulations. Given that the bill also has a 70-day requirement to approve any new standards, the potential for delays in enacting public safeguards is steep, particularly if bipartisan coalitions can't quickly draft joint resolutions.

We have seen efforts to push this legislation through three times previously, and each time it has failed to pass both houses. I urge my fellow Members of Congress to reject this harmful piece of legislation once more.

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