Require congressional approval for major regulations

REINS Act introduced

Updated: Friday, August 26th, 2011 | By Angie Drobnic Holan

House Republicans vowed to stop increased federal regulation during the campaign of 2010. One of their bills introduces significant new limitations on the power of executive agencies to make rules.

It's called the REINS Act -- as in, putting the reins on the federal government -- and it stands for Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny. 

It requires congressional approval of a major rule -- one that has an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more -- before it can take effect. A rule may also be considered major if it results in a significant increase in costs or prices, or if it has significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or U.S. competitiveness, according to a summary of the bill from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. 

The bill says that if Congress doesn't approve the rule within a certain time period, the rule is deemed not to have been approved and it shall not take effect, though it does grant certain exceptions. Rules not approved by Congress may take effect because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, for the enforcement of criminal laws, for national security, or to implement an international trade agreement.
The bill's sponsor is Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky., who has a website with more information about the bill. In May 2011, the House Republican leadership included the bill as part of their "Plan for America's Job Creators," a package of legislation aimed at stimulating economic growth.

The REINS Act has been discussed in hearings in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law, and its next step is a markup in the full House Judiciary Committee, followed by consideration by the House of Representatives, according to Davis's staff.

To achieve final passage, such a bill would need to receive Senate approval and the signature of the president (or another vote to override a veto). 

For now, though, we rate this promise In the Works.

Sources:

THOMAS, H.R. 10, the REINS Act, accessed Aug. 25, 2011

Rep. Geoff Davis, the REINS Act, accessed Aug. 25, 2011