Bridenstine, Lucas comment on passage of REINS Act

Today, the U.S. House voted to pass H.R. 26, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017. The bill, introduced by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), would increase accountability for and transparency in the federal regulatory process by requiring Congress to approve all new major regulations (more from the Heritage Foundation here). Oklahoma's House delegation all voted in favor (in fact, no Republicans voted against the measure). Here are comments from Congressmen Jim Bridenstine (OK-01) and Frank Lucas (OK-03):

Congressman Jim Bridenstine Votes for Reining in Bureaucratic Regulations

Today, Congressman Jim Bridenstine voted for H.R. 26, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act or the REINS Act.  The bill passed the House of Representatives 237/187.

Under the Obama Administration, unelected bureaucrats have used expansive and intrusive new regulations to fundamentally remake the American economy.  The REINS Act would help restore Congress’s constitutional power to make law, by requiring an up-or-down vote in Congress and the President’s signature to approve any major regulation which has an annual economic impact of over $100 million.

Congressman Bridenstine said: “Congress has ceded too much power to the executive branch, leading to an avalanche of red tape and new rules which are strangling economic growth, punishing job creators, and making life harder for families.  The REINS Act will help rebalance the scales and give Congress a bigger voice in the regulatory process.”

Today’s vote marks the third time the House has passed the REINS Act since 2012. President-Elect Trump has confirmed he will sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.

Lucas Votes to Strengthen Congressional Review of Costly Government Regulations

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-3) today voted to pass the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, legislation to increase the role of Congress in the oversight and review of executive agency rulemaking. The bill requires congressional approval for any major executive action that impacts the U.S. economy by an amount greater than $100 million or would drastically increase prices on consumer goods for Americans.

“The Obama administration’s regulatory regime of the past eight years has cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars,” said Congressman Lucas. “A big part of getting our economy back on track and Americans back to work is to remove the regulatory burdens that are restraining growth and opportunity.”

“As one of the first bills of the 115th Congress, the REINS Act is a serious step toward curbing overregulation and returning to common sense in the way we govern.”