Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) applauds the House for passing the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act (H.R. 4078). The Act is a comprehensive regulatory reform legislation that would streamline the time-consuming permitting process, bring transparency to rules issued by agencies as a result of an out of court agreement with environmentalists, and prohibit agencies from issuing a cascade of regulations when a change of administrations occurs. Prior to the passage of this legislation, on July 19, ARA Chairman Billy Pirkle testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the impact of EPA’s regulatory overreach. He addressed how several of these regulations would negatively impact the U.S. agricultural industry and the economy.
Additionally, ARA and other coalition members sent a letter to Members of Congress urging them to pass the bill. If enacted:
- It would tackle “Sue and Settle,” a legal tactic where friendly advocacy groups work with allies in regulatory agencies to write new rules with little public input.
- It would keep administrations from rushing through new major rules during a President’s lame-duck period.
- It would stop regulators from issuing the most-significant and costly rules until the unemployment rate falls to 6%.
For suggestions, comments and questions, please contact Michael Kennedy.