In a letter sent to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Dec. 6, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) joined associations and chambers of commerce from across the country in urging U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to make consideration of the “Regulatory Accountability Act” an early priority for the 115th Congress.
The letter secured 380 association signatories from 47 states and the District of Columbia representing a multitude of sectors, including agriculture, energy, transportation and manufacturing.
The groups wrote in the letter to Speaker Ryan, “We believe that federal regulations should be narrowly tailored, supported by strong and credible data and evidence, and impose the least burden possible, while still implementing Congressional intent.” They go on to explain, “The Regulatory Accountability Act builds on established principles of fair regulatory process and review that have been embodied in bipartisan executive orders dating to at least the Clinton administration.” The full letter can be viewed here.
“Reforms, such as those called for in the Regulatory Accountability Act, help foster a regulatory climate that is conducive to growth and prosperity,” said MEMA President and CEO Steve Handschuh. “MEMA believes this is an opportunity to rein in arbitrary and capricious regulations that have made it difficult for manufacturers to operate facilities, make wise business decisions and sustain and create jobs.”
The “Regulatory Accountability Act” would improve the transparency of regulations by requiring agencies to invest more effort earlier in the rulemaking process to gather data, evaluate alternatives and receive public input about the costs and benefits of its rules, according to MEMA.