This week, the House of Representatives will consider bipartisan regulatory transparency legislation sponsored by Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), and Collin Peterson (D-MN). H.R. 899, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act (UMITA) will strengthen the bipartisan Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA).

“Every year federal agencies impose thousands of regulatory mandates on small businesses and local governments. These mandates are often costly, making it harder for small businesses to get off the ground, for established business to grow, and for city and state governments to deliver services,” said Rep. Foxx. “Federal regulators must be required to consider the costs of every rule they impose on our economy and our local governments. UMITA will force Washington to calculate and consider these regulatory costs before passing them on to Americans. This bill is about transparency and accountability, and is something Democrats and Republicans can all support.”

UMITA expands the scope of the UMRA, which was passed to increase awareness of the financial burden federal mandates and rules place on businesses and state and local governments. UMITA requires regulatory agencies calculate and disclose what they are asking the American people to pay, and includes avenues for redress if agencies fail to comply.   

More Information: /legislation/umita.htm

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is currently in her fifth term as the Representative of North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is the elected Republican Conference Secretary. Dr. Foxx is the chair of the House Education & the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and serves as Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee.