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Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 Voted out of Senate Committee

By Dan Lapato posted 05-25-2017 12:51 PM

  

Over the last several years, APGA has been discussing and advocating for regulatory reform. APGA has written comments, letters and presented testimony on the need to improve how regulations are developed. On May 17, S. 951 the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017(RAA) passed out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by a vote of 9-5. It will now be sent to the Senate floor. Its companion bill has already passed the House.

The focus of the Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) is to make sure agencies implement congressional intent, not the intent of the agency. This legislation allows Congress and the public to have greater access to the federal regulatory process by holding agencies more accountable for their decisions, and allowing for regulations that are better-tailored to achieve their purpose without unnecessary burdens on stakeholders.

APGA along with so many other organizations have supported the RAA because it has the unique opportunity to modernize the Administrative Procedure Act’s rulemaking process, which has remained unchanged for more than 70 years.

As the Regulatory Accountability Act progresses through Congress APGA will be sure to keep members informed. For questions on this article, please contact Dan Lapato of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at dlapato@apga.org.

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