Source: PRESS RELEASE, 12/7/11

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW THE ENTIRE N.C. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION VOTED

Jones Votes To Rein in Federal Regulations

Today Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) and 236 of his Republican colleagues voted for H.R. 10, also known as the REINS Act.  The measure, which Jones is an original cosponsor of, would require Congress to approve every major rule proposed by the Executive branch before it can be imposed on American taxpayers.  The REINS Act requires Congress to take an up-or-down vote on regulations to rein in costly overreach of federal agencies that stifles job creation and hinders economic growth.  Such a process would help safeguard taxpayers from unnecessary and onerous regulations and ensure that federal agencies do not overstep their boundaries.  The bill passed by a vote of 241 to 184. It now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

“This bill is just common sense,” said Jones.  “Too many times the Executive Branch goes beyond the statutory authority given to them by Congress and forces costly regulations on the American people.  This bill would help address that problem.”

In 2011 the Obama administration is expected to propose more than 200 regulations that each cost over $100 million.  According to the Small Business Administration, federal regulations cost the American economy roughly $1.75 trillion a year.  

Ellmers Applauds Passage of REINS Act
 

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers released the following statement from her office in Washington this afternoon:

"I'm proud to announce the successful passage of the REINS Act today. Job creators and job seekers have been suffocated with unnecessary regulations that are harming our economic recovery. Every day I am hearing from small business owners about the struggles they are facing just to stay afloat. Small businesses in particular face a disadvantage since they lack the same workforce that large businesses have on hand to navigate these rules. They are forced to spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours navigating the confusing bureaucracy created by inefficient regulatory burdens. This is costing our economy billions of dollars while providing little relief to job seekers and employers. I call on Senator Reid to act without delay on this vital legislation."

The Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act was passed this afternoon with bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. The bill amends the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to require Congress to affirmatively approve every new major regulation proposed by the executive branch before it can be enforced on the American people.  

The REINS Act would apply to all new major regulations. A major regulation means any rule that the Executive Branch finds has resulted in, or is likely to result in, either an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies. There were 95 final major regulations in 2008, 84 in 2009, and 100 in 2010. As of now, the Obama Administration has 4,257 new regulations in the works, 219 of which will cost over $100 million annually – 15 percent more than last year.

G.K. Butterfield (D, NC-1)-no

Howard Coble (R, NC-6)- yes

Renee Ellmers (R, NC-2) yes

Virginia Foxx (R, NC -5) yes

Walter B. Jones (R, NC-3)-yes

Larry Kissell (D, NC-8)-no

Patrick McHenry (R, NC-10)-yes

Mike McIntyre(D, NC-7)-yes

Brad Miller (D, NC-13)-no

Sue Myrick (R, NC-9)-not voting

David Price (D, NC-4)-no

Heath Shuler (D, NC-11)-no

Mel Watt (D, NC-12)-no