Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, this amendment to title II, the ALERT Act, ensures that agencies and OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OIRA, report the cost of unfunded mandates imposed through the regulatory process.

Federal agencies can advance government initiatives without using Federal taxpayer dollars by issuing regulations that pass compliance down to State and local governments and to private businesses. These costly mandates make it harder for companies to hire and for cash- strapped States, counties, and cities to keep streets safe and parks clean.

My amendment requires agencies to include in their monthly reports to OIRA whether rules in the pipeline impose unfunded mandates, and requires OIRA to include in its annual cumulative assessment of new regulations the total cost of unfunded mandates imposed by the Federal Government.

This amendment will not unduly burden agencies' regulatory work, as it requires only that they be transparent in their imposition of unfunded mandates on State and local governments and private businesses.

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, as I mentioned in the debate last night on a similar amendment, unfunded mandates are frequently overlooked in the debates about regulatory reform. However, these decisions have real costs and real effects on the individuals, families, and communities we each represent.

While my amendment is a small change, it ensures that costs passed down to businesses, State and local governments are reported.

I thank my colleagues for their consideration and ask for their support.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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