Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. COBLE. I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3010. I reiterate what I said yesterday regarding regulatory legislation, that when critics accuse those of us who support it and furthermore accuse us of being willing to compromise health and safety standards: not guilty. But we are guilty of trying to reduce the number of redundant, excessive regulations--bad, onerous regulations. To that, I do plead guilty.

As I meet with representatives from industries in my congressional district and other districts here in Washington, one message is imminently clear: our regulatory process is out of control. There's enormous uncertainty over what actions agencies will take, there's uncertainty over which agencies have jurisdiction, and there's concern about the actions of independent agencies.

It is important to note that these perceptions are not a part of a larger campaign to discredit the Republican or Democratic agendas. They highlight a growing perception that our government is simply out of touch. The process is missing checks and balances, which are the cornerstone of our democracy, while regulators have virtually limitless resources and power. The result has enabled special interests to impose their will on certain areas of our regulatory system after clearing few hoops and low hurdles. This was not the intent of the Administrative Procedures Act and explains a legacy of executive orders requiring that agencies issue narrowly tailored, less costly alternatives that began with the Reagan administration.

Other costs continue to hit close to home, Mr. Chairman. They drive businesses to other countries, costing thousands of jobs. Many will argue that regulations create jobs. That may well be true of good, sound regulations; but ask many of the employers who have relocated their manufacturing facilities, and they will tell you it's in large part due to our regulatory government. Every industry in America is concerned about our regulatory regime, and there is little doubt that bad regulations have driven American jobs to other countries.

The solution is not more regulation, Mr. Chairman. It's better and more effective regulation, which is exactly what H.R. 3010 is intended to create, much like H.R. 527, the small business regulatory reform bill that we approved yesterday.

When the Administrative Procedure Act was implemented, few imagined that our government would issue a regulation that would threaten the viability of an entire industry. Today, unfortunately, many would say this has become the routine practice. Prime examples are the EPA Cement MACT rule, OSHA's Noise Guidance, and HHS's grandfather plan rule. Some describe them as misguided. Others would say they're downright reckless.

H.R. 3010 addresses the situation by implementing new requirements that would give stakeholders a legitimate opportunity to improve regulations as they are proposed, promulgated, and ultimately implemented. In fact, most of the reforms included in this legislation simply codify President Obama's Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.

Finally, the bill will not change any existing regulatory standard or requirement.

The overwhelming view from my congressional district is that Federal regulations are driving American ingenuity and opportunity to other countries. Improving our regulatory process may be one of the most significant legislative considerations that we can provide to help preserve our safety and provide economic opportunity for future generations.

Mr. Chairman, we continue to hear, Jobs, jobs, jobs, echoed from shore to shore, border to border. This is a good piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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