Hill Letter to Senate HSGAC Supporting S. 951, the Regulatory Accountability Act

Dear Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member McCaskill,

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urges the Committee to favorably report S. 951, the “Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017,” which was introduced by Senators Portman and Heitkamp and would make long-overdue improvements to the federal regulatory process. Enactment of the Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) is a long-standing, top priority for the Chamber.

While administrations from both parties have issued numerous executive orders affecting how regulations are promulgated, the statutory process under the Administrative Procedures Act has been largely unchanged since 1946. S. 951 is a balanced approach to reforming and updating the Administrative Procedures Act.

The Chamber believes that federal regulations should be narrowly tailored, be supported by strong and credible data and evidence, and impose the least burden possible, while implementing congressional intent. The RAA stands for good governance and getting rules right by bringing transparency, accountability, and integrity to the rulemaking process at federal agencies, whether rules are being crafted by Republican or Democratic administrations.

The Chamber, along with over 600 groups from each of the 50 states, wrote to the full Senate on February 6, 2017, urging quick consideration of the RAA. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has a unique chance to bring real structural reform to the way agencies adopt the most costly rules that fundamentally change the nation.