Gottheimer, Davis, Kind, Yoho Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Federal Red Tape and Out of Date Regulations

Regulatory Improvement Act will cut red tape to help businesses start and grow, while protecting families and communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Thursday, June 13, 2019, Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Ron Kind (WI-3), and Ted Yoho (FL-3) introduced the bipartisan Regulatory Improvement Act, which will cut red tape and outdated bureaucracy – through an independent, bipartisan process – to create jobs and spur economic growth, all while protecting families, children, and communities.

Outdated and unnecessarily burdensome regulations continue to hold back businesses of all sizes, hampering job growth throughout the country.

The bipartisan Regulatory Improvement Act creates an independent, bipartisan commission, the Regulatory Improvement Commission, which will review rules that are outdated, duplicative, or in conflict with one another. The Commission will then present its recommendations to Congress for a simple up or down vote, giving ample opportunity to cut tape at the federal level.

Members of the Regulatory Improvement Commission would be composed of representatives from business and civic organizations and would be appointed by the President and Congressional leaders of both parties.

“Government bureaucracy comes up with new rules that contradict other rules and layers on new ones without actually getting rid of the out-of-date ones. I’m the first one to say we need appropriate guard rails to protect our families and communities – but not red tape for the sake of it or just to hold up job creation that we need to put food on the table,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “The bipartisan Regulatory Improvement Act will help cut red tape that’s piling up and causing major problems to employers of all sizes. And the bipartisan, independent Regulatory Improvement Commission that this bill creates will provide actionable proposals to Congress to ensure red tape is actually being cut.”

“We know overregulation from the Federal government kills small businesses and hurts job growth across America. All over my district, folks have told me story after story of ridiculous rules that have hurt not only their ability to hire, but stay in business. I often ask business owners if they would be able to restart their business today given the current regulatory environment. The answer is always a no!” said Congressman Ted Yoho (FL-3). “While I am a firm believer that a certain degree of regulation must be in place to ensure the safety and security of Americans, overregulation snuffs out the fires of the entrepreneurial spirit and suffocates job creation. Thanks to initiatives like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and various regulation-reducing measures that passed in the 115th Congress, we are now experiencing the best performing economy in decades. The bi-partisan Regulatory Improvement Act will continue to cut burdensome red tape, bringing economic relief to families and businesses in communities all across the country.”

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