Articles

By: Rep. Steve Chabot Press Release – Today, U.S. Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) spearheaded a letter (signed by 82 of his colleagues) to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging the inclusion of regulatory relief provisions in the next phase of coronavirus economic recovery legislation.

“Regulatory reform, whether through paperwork reduction or removing outmoded compliance requirements, is the most efficient means of promoting economic recovery,” the representatives wrote. “In contrast to unsustainable increases in federal spending, the easing of regulatory burdens – estimated to cost businesses as much as $1.9 trillion – will have a broader macroeconomic affect by promoting competition and private investment. The burden of regulatory compliance on small businesses alone, who create most of the new jobs in the U.S., is tremendous as the cost per employee averages out to be $15,003 (calculation based on data from the SBA).”

Chabot is joined on the letter by Representatives Troy Balderson (R-OH), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Mark Walker (R-NC), Steve King (R-IA), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Roger Williams (R-TX), Scott Perry (R-PA), Robert Latta (R-OH), Ken Buck (R-CO), Chris Stewart (R-UT), W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), Ben Cline (R-VA), Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S (R-AZ), Ron Wright (R-TX), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Randy K. Weber (R-TX), Ross Spano (R-FL), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Denver Riggleman (R-VA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), James Comer (R-KY), Bill Flores (R-TX), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Chip Roy (R-TX), Steve Stivers (R-OH), Ann Wagner (R-MO), John Joyce (R-PA), Jim Banks (R-IN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tom McClintock (R-CA), David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV), Van Taylor (R-TX), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN), Fred Keller (R-PA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), David Kustoff (R-TN), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Ted S. Yoho, D.V.M (R-FL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Steve Watkins (R-KS), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Doug Collins (R-GA), Brad R. Wenstrup (R-OH), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Jason Smith (R-MO), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Bill Posey (R-FL), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), William Timmons (R-SC), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Jody Hice (R-GA), David P. Joyce (R-OH), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Carol D. Miller (R-WV), Pete Olson (R-TX), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), David Rouzer (R-NC), Mike Bost (R-IL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Michael Guest (R-MS), and Brett Guthrie (R-KY).

The letter may be found below and here.

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy:

We applaud your bipartisan leadership and cooperation in responding to the unprecedented health and economic crisis that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. In that spirit, we write to urge the inclusion of statutory changes to significantly reduce red tape, paperwork, and other regulatory requirements in any subsequent legislation to respond to COVID-19 in general, and economic recovery in particular.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, there have been significant changes around the world to cope with the pandemic. Domestically, we have seen federal, state, and local governments take steps to protect at-risk populations through social distancing, mandatory business closures, and various shelter-in-place strategies. These measures do appear to help “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 infections, but they are taking a devastating toll on the economy, jobs, and people’s lives.

Since March 5, 2020, the House has passed four packages of legislation to respond to this extraordinary health and economic disaster. Moving forward, we must include statutory changes that permit regulatory relief for businesses small and large across every sector of the economy.

Regulatory reform, whether through paperwork reduction or removing outmoded compliance requirements, is the most efficient means of promoting economic recovery. In contrast to unsustainable increases in federal spending, the easing of regulatory burdens–estimated to cost businesses as much as $1.9 trillion –will have a broader macroeconomic affect by promoting competition and private investment. The burden of regulatory compliance on small businesses alone, who create most of the new jobs in the US, is tremendous as the cost per employee averages out to be $15,003 (calculation based on data from the SBA).

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We stand ready to work with you to include commonsense regulatory relief in the next phase of legislation to promote long-term economic recovery following the COVID-19 healthcare crisis.