Rep. Brat: Today I voted "YES" on the SCRUB and the Sunshine Act

Statement

U.S. Congressman Dave Brat (R-Va.) today issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 1155, the SCRUB Act and H.R. 712, the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act:

American households currently spend almost $15,000 per year on costs and fees that have been imposed by the enormous 175,268 page Code of Federal Regulations.

"Today, I voted for two bills that provide real solutions, help ease regulatory burdens, and provide better government oversight and transparency," said Rep. Dave Brat. "Today, the Republican-led House passed two bills that provide real solutions based on governing by principle."

The first, the "Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act," establishes a commission to determine which existing federal regulations can be repealed in order to reduce their economic costs by 15 percent. "This is another important step in rolling back the bureaucratic regulations that stifle small businesses, giving them freedom to innovate and grow," said Rep. Brat.

"I also voted yes on the "Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015," said Rep. Brat." This legislation stops special interest groups from implementing costly and burdensome regulation through the secretive 'sue and settle' practice."

"Sue and settle" skirts the checks that are necessary for a democratic, transparent rule-making process. For example, according to Congress' nonpartisan watchdog, more than a quarter of all major EPA rules are the result of these types of special interest lawsuits. This bill will help prevent these abuses by providing a greater degree of transparency and public participation into the process. It will require federal agencies to publish openly, online, ahead of time, an easy to read summary and provide appropriate time for public comment and hearing.

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