Letter to The Honorable Jacob J. Lew

Letter

Dear Mr. Lew:

On Wednesday, January 26, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation will hold a hearing entitled The Views of the Administration on Regulatory Reform.

Our committee is concerned that new or burdensome regulations may prevent investors or entrepreneurs from putting capital at risk during an economic recovery. Excessive federal regulation can increase the costs to businesses large and small, placing a de facto tax on future innovation and hiring. We have promised the American people that we will very carefully review any regulation that threatens to cost our economy $100 million or more.

Yesterday President Obama issued an Executive Order as well as a memorandum that are apparently intended to improve the regulatory system and increase regulatory flexibility for small businesses. We would like to examine how these documents will affect future regulations and their cost to America's businesses.

Therefore, this is to confirm your testimony, or that of your designee from the Office of management and Budget (OMB), to discuss the Administration's regulatory reform agenda and the Executive Order issued by the President.

In addition, we request that the OMB produce documents related to the Executive Order and related memoranda on small business regulatory flexibility. Specifically, we ask that you produce by January 21, 2011:

Any documents relating to the changes the Executive ORder or the memoranda on small business regulatory flexibility will have on the processes or procedures used by Executive Branch departments or agencies to comply with OMB regulatory guidance.

Any documents relating to the need to issue the Executive Order or the memoranda.

Our staff will contact yours regarding additional details associated with this request. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Todd Harrison, Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on Oversight and INvestigation, of the Energy and Commerce Committee staff at (202) 226-2424.

Sincerely,

Fred Upton
Cliff Stearns

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