Rep. Ben Cline introduces bills to improve federal rulemaking process

On January 13, 2023, Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) introduced two pieces of legislation that would attack waste in our bureaucracy and ensure federal agencies are held accountable to private citizens and small businesses during the rulemaking process: the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act and the Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act.

“Good governance begins with accountability, and nowhere is this needed more than in our federal bureaucracy,” Rep. Cline said. “These common-sense bills make critical improvements to the rulemaking process by placing a necessary check on agency regulators.”

Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act
The Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act would require federal regulators to assess the full economic effects of proposed regulations on small businesses and consider alternative measures to reduce burdens before they act.

Cosponsor: Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL)
Supporters: NFIB, Heritage Action

Read the full bill text here and a one-pager here.

Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act
The Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act would require all rules proposed by federal agencies, except in limited circumstances, to be signed and issued by an individual appointed by the President and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Cosponsors: Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)
Supporters: Pacific Legal Foundation, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action

Read the full bill text here and a one-pager here.