House Passes Small Business Committee Bill To Address Regulatory Burdens

Press Release

House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today issued the following statement after the House passed the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 (HR 527) by a vote of 263-159:

"According to an October Gallup poll, small business owners cited compliance with government regulations as the most important problem facing them today, and according to a 2010 Small Business Administration study, small firms bear a regulatory cost that is 36 percent higher than the cost of regulatory compliance for large businesses. Economic recovery begins with our small businesses but this will not happen unless we rein in the mass of regulations coming from Washington.

"The federal government has gone too far on many nonessential regulations that are harming small businesses. It is our responsibility to remove these barriers and make sure the government carefully considers regulatory consequences on our most robust job creators before finalizing them. That's why our Committee brought the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 to the floor for a vote. This bill will help small companies by forcing federal agencies to fully examine the impact of their proposed regulations on small businesses and consider less burdensome alternatives if those impacts are significant. I hope the Senate will put politics aside and take up this legislation, and the more than 20 other House-passed jobs bills, so that we can give small businesses the certainty and relief they need to help our economy grow."

On February 8, 2011, Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves joined House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) to introduce the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 (HR 527). The Small Business Committee held hearings on the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 on March 30, 2011 and June 15, 2011 and marked up the bill on July 13, 2011.

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