Democrats Oppose Trump Cuts to Health, Environmental Safeguards

Press Release

As the Trump Administration pushes policies promoting massive, swift deregulation, Democrats of the House Committee on Small Business are drawing attention to benefits from rules that protect the environment and public safety. In a hearing today, Democrats expressed concern over the impact that President Trump's Executive Order 13771 will have on small businesses and the American public. Under the Order, for every new regulation issued, at least two prior regulations are slated for elimination.

"While we certainly must be mindful of how regulations affect small businesses, the Trump Administration's proposal to cut two regulations in exchange for every new one implemented is arbitrary and economically reckless," said Ranking Member Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). "We cannot lose sight of the fact that many regulations exist to protect our health and safety and some of them provide small businesses with stability or protection from unfair advantage by their larger competitors."

In her testimony, Lisa Heinzerling, Professor of Law at Georgetown Law School, also expressed her concern for the consequences of President Trump's executive order.

In her testimony, Heinzerling notes that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulatory budget has faced particularly dramatic cuts under the Trump Administration. Heinzerling cited data from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), detailing benefits from EPA regulations.

During the hearing, Democrats drew attention to how regulations can mitigate damage from disasters like Hurricane Harvey and the BP oil spill.

"When zoning rules are weak, Hurricanes can wreak much more havoc on a city, harming small firms," Velázquez noted. "Likewise, environmental catastrophes, like oil spills can devastate local economies that rely on fishing or tourism. Too often, discussion surrounding regulations focuses only on costs, ignoring completely the ancillary benefits of these rules."

Democratic lawmakers concluded by noting the need for balance in regulatory policymaking.

"America's small business deserve a level playing field, and to this end we must acknowledge and eliminate burdensome regulations and paperwork requirements," Velázquez concluded. "That requires thoughtful policymaking, not blindly hacking at the underpinnings of consumer, environmental and public health safeguards as this Administration proposes. Mindlessly attacking our regulatory framework doesn't assist entrepreneurs, but simply helps big companies at the expense of entrepreneurs."

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