U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) is one of 115 original cosponsors of a Republican measure that would add another level of congressional action for certain executive branch regulations.
“Reining in the power of the executive branch is long overdue and this legislation is commonsense,” Rep. Newhouse said on March 11.
If enacted, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2021 (REINS Act), H.R. 1776, which Rep. Newhouse and his colleagues introduced on March 10 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), would require that major rules of the executive branch would have no force or effect unless a joint resolution of approval is enacted into law, according to the congressional record bill summary.
Specifically, all executive branch “major” regulations, defined as having an economic impact of $100 million or more, would need to receive an up-or-down vote in both chambers of Congress, as well as the signature of the president, before the regulation could be enforced on the American public, according to Rep. Newhouse’s office.
“Some of the greatest concerns I hear about from small business owners, farmers and localities in central Washington are the high costs of complying with expensive and burdensome federal regulations,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Giving Congress more oversight of these rules — especially those that have a major impact on our economy — will increase accountability and help to strengthen our constitutional authority.”
H.R. 1776 also would preserve the authority for Congress to disapprove of a nonmajor rule through a joint resolution of disapproval, according to Rep. Newhouse’s bill summary.
The measure has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, the U.S. House Rules Committee, and the U.S. House Budget Committee.