Why I Voted Yes on H.R. 50

Statement

I voted "Yes" on H.R. 50, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act.

Unfunded mandates have long been a problem for state and local governments, as well as businesses large and small. In 1995, Congress passed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) to reduce unnecessary burdens resulting from unfunded mandates, in part by making most federal agencies undertake an assessment of the anticipated costs and benefits of the mandate, and forcing them to consider alternatives if a rulemaking could cost the economy more than $100 million.

H.R. 50 would improve the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act to require that independent agencies who have been exempt from the law (such as the FCC and SEC) also conduct analyses of how their proposed rules would impact the private sector and state and local governments. It would also have all federal agencies consult with the private sector when developing rules. Additionally, the bill would ensure that when agencies review proposed regulations for unfunded mandates they incorporate the indirect costs of proposed rules. Finally, H.R. 50 would require agencies to conduct retrospective analyses of existing rules if so requested by Congress.

Having worked for decades in business in upstate New York I understand all too well the costs and difficulties that federal mandates impose on the private sector. I also hear frequently from Upstate municipalities and local governments about how frustrating unfunded mandates are to their efforts. I support this legislation to make sure that costs and benefits of all unfunded federal mandates are understood and considered before mandates are passed down to businesses or state and local governments.

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