King's Sunset Act Holds Congress Accountable

Friday, August 03, 2012

Washington, DC- Congressman Steve King released the following statement after introducing the Sunset Act, H.R. 6333. The Sunset Act would require Congress to take an up or down vote on all new rules and regulations put forth by federal departments and agencies, recognizing that even rules that aren't intended to have substantial economic impacts can have an outsized affect on small business and job creators. The legislation would also require that all current regulations be sunsetted and voted on by Congress for renewal.

"All businesses face regulatory burdens, yet currently there is no check for Congress to reign in these rules and regulations that Executive agencies, led by unelected bureaucrats, put into place," said King. "The Sunset Act requires Congressional approval for all new rules and would incrementally sunset all existing regulations, requiring Congress to revisit them every ten years. The Sunset Act will help to ensure that rules and regulations churned out by Washington bureaucrats are necessary and helpful, not burdensome and problematic.

The role of government is to enforce the law, not create onerous red tape for entrepreneurs and businesses. Americans must be able to hold their elected officials accountable for the rules and regulations that the federal government imposes upon them, and the Sunset Act will do just that."