Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2023

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chair and ranking member of the full committee that has jurisdiction of these issues.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak on this amendment. This amendment delays the implementation of the legislation by 1 year and requires that a study be conducted in time by GAO on the effects of implementation.

We are making drastic changes, and drastic changes ought not be made rapidly. We ought to give ourselves time to study these things so that we can make prudent and judicious decisions.

A GAO study would provide us with the rigorous, unbiased analysis of the likely impacts of the bill. It would examine the economic, regulatory, and administrative implications of this new approval process.

This amendment would help us to better understand how the shift might affect industries, consumers especially, the economy, and the government.

While the intent to improve regulatory oversight is laudable, we must not rush into this. There should not be this rush to judgment as to the implications without at least giving ourselves an opportunity to examine them. We shouldn't do this without fully appreciating the potential consequences.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, it is my belief that moving with measured steps is not a delay. It is a judicious means by which we can ascertain whether this drastic change--one might say a radical change-- will produce radical, unacceptable results.

Madam Chair, I think the amendment should be supported, and I ask my colleagues to do so.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, the goal of this amendment is not to undermine the power of congressional oversight. Rather, it is to protect the functionality of government.

By providing a time-bound framework, we ensure that important regulatory decisions are not left in limbo. That is exactly what can happen without the benefit of this amendment. That is due to legislative inertia.

Madam Chair, the Framers of our Constitution designed a government that balances power between the branches. This amendment respects that design by allowing for robust legislative review while also ensuring that the executive branch can effectively administer and enforce our laws.

However, let me be clear. While this amendment aims to improve the proposed bill, I still remain fundamentally opposed to it because I believe that the drastic changes that will take place will not serve to benefit our legislative process.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, this amendment is not designed to delay but rather is designed to give us the opportunity to move forward expeditiously. In fact, that is what has been the argument of the other side that we should move expeditiously.

If expeditious movement is the choice of the other side, then they should support this because it forces us to take that necessary action as opposed to getting engaged in what has been called a paralysis of analysis.

This a great opportunity for us to link arms, join hands, and cause this legislation to move quickly. I think that this is what the gentlewoman wants, it is what I want, and it is what we can produce.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source