Bluegrass Times

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has announced that he and 24 fellow senators have reintroduced the REINS Act.

“For too long an ever-growing federal bureaucracy has piled regulations and red tape on the backs of the American people without any approval by Americans’ elected representatives,” Paul said in a statement. “By making Congress more accountable for the most costly and intrusive federal rules, the REINS Act would give Kentuckians and citizens throughout the country a greater voice in determining whether these major rules are in America’s best interests.”

According to Ballotpedia, The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS) is a legislative proposal designed to broaden the scope of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) of 1996. Under the current CRA, Congress has the authority to issue resolutions of disapproval to nullify agency regulations. The REINS Act seeks to expand the CRA to also require congressional approval of certain major agency regulations before agencies can implement them. 

The REINS Act would also give Congress the authority to preemptively halt the initial enactment of certain regulations instead of issuing resolutions of disapproval after a rule takes effect. Under the current CRA, regulations go into effect unless Congress specifically disapproves of them.

“Regulatory agencies play an important role in executing the laws Congress writes, but for too long, Congress has ceded too much authority to the agencies," Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said. "I am pleased to support the REINS Act, which would help restore Congress to its appropriate place in the lawmaking process by ensuring it has the chance to review the most significant and costly regulations."

The REINS Act defines major agency regulations as those that have financial impacts on the U.S. economy of $100 million or more, increase consumer prices or have significant harmful effects on the economy.

“We’ve already seen this new administration is full steam ahead on enacting their radical agenda through executive action," Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said. "The REINS Act is a common-sense piece of legislation that would ensure Congress has a say in any new major regulation that would have a significant economic effect of $100 million or more. We must ensure that unaccountable and unelected regulators do not hamper our economy with burdensome regulations as we try to come back from the hardship caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.”

The REINS Act also will require Congress to examine all current regulations that have financial impacts on the U.S. economy of $100 million or more.

“For far too long I have said we must not only cut through the red tape, but also ensure those in the executive branch are held to the highest level of transparency and accountability,” Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said. “With the REINS Act, Congress would have a voice in approving major rules created by the executive branch. It’s past time we rein in unelected government officials so that we can reduce the harmful effects of their overregulation.” 

The REINS Act bill can be read in its entirety here.