Representative Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) released the following statement after the House passed the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (H.R. 10), a bill that reins in out of control federal regulations by requiring congressional approval for any federal regulation with an economic impact of $100 million or more.

“In meeting with more than thirty business owners during my Tennessee Job Creators Tour, I can say with certainty that needless bureaucratic red tape and excessive government regulations are hamstringing their ability to grow and create badly needed jobs,” said Representative DesJarlais. “In times of economic uncertainty, we should be focusing our efforts on empowering job creators – not increasing the size of Washington’s regulatory authority at the expense of small businesses. The REINS Act will improve the accountability of the regulatory process by requiring regulations with a substantial economic impact to be subject to congressional approval instead of allowing unaccountable bureaucrats to issue new rules without any oversight."

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act:

1.Requires Congress to take an up-or-down vote on regulations that have an economic impact of $100 million or more before they can be imposed on the American people and businesses;

2. Stops the practice of allowing unelected federal officials impose huge costs on the economy and American people through burdensome regulations;

3. Reins in the costly overreach of federal agencies that stifles job creation and hinders economic growth;

4. Restores the authority to impose regulations to those who are accountable to the voters, their elected representatives in Congress.

5. According to the Small Business Administration, federal regulations cost our economy $1.75 trillion per year.

6. The Obama Administration’s December 2010 report on federal regulations listed more than 4,200 regulatory actions under development by federal agencies.

7. In 2011, the Obama administration is expected to propose more than 200 regulations costing over $100 million each. Seven of those new regulations will cost the economy more than $1 billion each.

NOTE: The House has now passed 26 jobs bills that are awaiting a vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Learn more and find a full list of these bills at jobs.GOP.gov.