Last week the House passed H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011, which ensures that significant regulations (which would cost the economy $100 million or more) must be approved by Congress before they can be enacted.  The House also passed H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011, which prevents the EPA from proposing or implementing increased regulation on farm dust for one year.  Congressman Simpson is a cosponsor of both pieces of legislation.

REINS Act Passes House of Representatives
Bill Requires Congressional Action for new Regulations
Congressman Mike Simpson last week supported critical legislation to return accountability and transparency to the federal regulatory process.

Congressman Simpson cosponsored and voted in favor of H.R. 10, the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 241-184.

The REINS Act amends the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to require Congress to approve every new major regulation proposed by the executive branch. Federal agencies may no longer unilaterally adopt a new regulation that would cost over $100 million per year without congressional consent.  By returning to Congress its constitutional charge, the REINS Act further holds Congress accountable to the American people for laws imposed upon them.

“I believe Congress has a strong oversight role to play to ensure that federal agencies are not overreaching their authority and stifling job growth” Simpson said. “I have heard from countless Idahoans who are frustrated with impact of costly regulations on their ability to do business.  In particular, I am concerned that the Obama Administration is using the regulatory process to force on the American people an agenda that is weakening our economy and pushing federal government further into the lives of citizens.  The REINS Act is a crucial step in creating job growth and restoring economic confidence in America.”

Simpson Votes to Prevent Overregulation of Farm Dust
Congressman Mike Simpson last week voted to prevent any effort by EPA to regulate farm dust.  The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011, by a vote of 268 -150.  Simpson, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the EPA’s budget, is a cosponsor of this legislation.

“Any effort by a federal agency to regulate the dust created when a person drives on unpaved roads or when farmers work in the field would wreak havoc on farmers, livestock producers and other agriculturalists, especially in rural areas like Idaho,” said Simpson.  “I was pleased to see this bill pass the House and am hopeful that the Senate will take a similar position on this issue—that increasing regulation of farm dust is as ridiculous as it sounds.”

H.R. 1633 ensures that the EPA could not impose more stringent dust regulations for one year.  The agency is currently in the midst of a five-year review of the Clean Air Act’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter. 


Committee Schedule

Congressman Simpson has been named as a conferee on the conference for H.R. 2055, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of FY2012.  Conferees met last week and are expected to file legislation early this week in order to finish annual appropriations for FY2012.

At 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, the House Budget Committee will mark up the Expedited Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011.

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
1) S. 384 - A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to extend the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal to raise funds for breast cancer research (Sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
2) H.R. 3220 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 170 Evergreen Square SW in Pine City, Minnesota, as the “Master Sergeant Daniel L. Fedder Post Office” (Sponsored by Rep. Chip Cravaack / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
3) H.R. 3246 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15455 Manchester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, as the “Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Todd Akin / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
4) H.R. 2158 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14901 Adelfa Drive in La Mirada, California, as the “Wayne Grisham Post Office” (Sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
5) H.R. 2767 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8 West Silver Street in Westfield, Massachusetts, as the “William T. Trant Post Office Building”
(Sponsored by Rep. John Olver / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
6) H.R. 2845 - Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Shuster / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
7) H.R. 2668 - A bill to designate the station of the United States Border Patrol located at 2136 South Naco Highway in Bisbee, Arizona, as the “Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station'”(Sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
8) H.R. 1264 - To designate the property between the United States Federal Courthouse and the Ed Jones Building located at 109 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee, as the "M.D. Anderson Plaza" and to authorize the placement of a historical/identification marker on the grounds recognizing the achievements and philanthropy of M.D. Anderson, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Stephen Fincher / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
1) H.R. 3421 - Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Act (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Shuster / Financial Services Committee)
2) H.R. 886 - United States Marshals Service 225th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Womack / Financial Services Committee)
3) H.R. 1905 - Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen / Foreign Affairs Committee)
4) H.R. 2105 - Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen / Foreign Affairs Committee)
5) H.Res. 306 - Urging the Republic of Turkey to Safeguard Its Christian Heritage and to Return Confiscated Church Properties (Sponsored by Rep. Ed Royce / Foreign Affairs Committee)
6) H.Res. 376 - Calling for the repatriation of POW/MIAs and abductees from the Korean War (Sponsored by Rep. Charlie Rangel / Foreign Affairs Committee)
7) H.R. 2719 - Rattlesnake Mountain Public Access Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings / Natural Resources Committee)
8) H.R. 443 - To provide for the conveyance of certain property from the United States to the Maniilaq Association located in Kotzebue, Alaska (Sponsored by Rep. Don Young / Natural Resources Committee)
9) S. 278 - Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District Land Exchange Act (Sponsored by Sen. Mark Udall / Natural Resources Committee)
10) H.R. 313 - Drug Trafficking Safe Harbor Elimination Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith / Judiciary Committee)

H.R. 3060 - Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp / Ways and Means Committee / Energy and Commerce Committee / Financial Services Committee / Foreign Affairs Committee / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee / Agriculture Committee / Oversight and Government Reform Committee / House Admiration Committee / Budget Committee / Natural Resources Committee / Rules Committee / Permanent Select Intelligence Committee)

Conference Report on H.R. 2055 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers / Appropriations Committee)

Conference Report on H.R. 1540 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Buck McKeon / Armed Services Committee)