WTAS: Industry Stakeholders React to Committee Report on Biden-Harris Administration’s Failure to Comply with Regulatory Flexibility Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On May 22^nd, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, along with the Republican Members of the Committee, released a staff report detailing the Biden Administration's failure to comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The following two statements are from industry experts and stakeholders who applauded Chairman Williams and the Committee for releasing this staff report.

"On behalf of the National Small Business Association (NSBA) and its more than 65,000 members, we write to express our support and gratitude for the recent investigation conducted by the House Small Business Committee into the compliance of federal agencies with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). We commend the Committee's diligent efforts in identifying and addressing the shortcomings of federal agencies in adhering to the mandates of the RFA, which are crucial in protecting small businesses from undue regulatory burdens. NSBA appreciates the Committee's thorough analysis and recommendations for improving agency compliance with the RFA. Your efforts in highlighting these issues and advocating for stronger enforcement mechanisms are vital steps toward creating a more equitable regulatory landscape for small businesses. We believe that full compliance with the RFA will lead to more thoughtful and balanced regulatory approaches-ultimately fostering a more conducive environment for small business growth and sustainability-and look forward to continuing to work with you in this critical space. Read NSBA's full letter," said the National Small Business Association.

"The important work of Chairman Williams and the House Small Business Committee has uncovered a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of regulatory-system abuse that is damaging America's small-business ecosystem and the Main Street businesses that support local economies. As the Committee's report has uncovered, regulatory agencies are systematically not following the rules when it comes to creating new rules that small businesses must abide by. These costly and in many cases groundless regulations are disrupting productive business models and piling on burdens at a time when our economy and small businesses face daunting conditions - such as relentless inflation. SBE Council is grateful that the Committee has documented this damaging and prejudicial regulatory activity, which means productive steps can be taken to compel the federal government to follow the law when it comes to how it develops new regulations or modifies existing ones. SBE Council fully supports the range of solutions and reforms proposed by committee members, as we believe the report's findings are merely the tip of the iceberg and important steps must be taken to reform a careless regulatory culture that is permeating federal agencies and departments," said Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.

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Background:

The House Committee on Small Business conducted a 15-month long investigation into the Biden Administration's failure to comply with the RFA. From day one, the Administration released an onslaught of regulations on Main Street. The numbers are staggering: over $1.6 trillion in regulation cost and over $320 million paperwork hours. While the report has been released, this does not signal the end of the Committee's focus on this issue. With Chairman Williams at the helm, the Committee remains committed to ensuring that small firms across the country are not burdened with duplicative and unnecessary rules and regulations that hamper their ability to compete in the marketplace. The Committee hopes the Administration will alter its course and rescind the rules discussed in the report.

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