Key Vote Letter to House Supporting H.R. 5, the Regulatory Accountability Act

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 5, which includes the Regulatory Accountability Act, and may consider including votes on, or in relation to, H.R. 5 in our annual How They Voted scorecard.

The Chamber commends the House for acting on regulatory reform legislation so early in the 115th session, and for bringing H.R 5, which also includes important provisions related to small businesses, to the floor.

The Regulatory Accountability Act is a long-standing priority for the Chamber and would update the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to improve how federal agencies promulgate those rules with the most significant impact on jobs and economic growth.

Modernization of APA is long overdue. While there has been a dramatic increase in high impact, transformative rules that are slowing economic growth and inhibiting job creation, APA rulemaking provisions have remained virtually unchanged since 1946 when the law was established.

H.R. 5 would target only the most expensive and burdensome of these rules for increased scrutiny by providing greater transparency, by holding agencies accountable, and by making sure the data behind the decisions of regulators are made publicly available.

The Chamber urges you to support this legislation and to oppose any weakening amendment when it is considered likely next week.