PRINTER'S NO. 1582

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

279

Session of

2018

INTRODUCED BY STEFANO, MENSCH, AUMENT, FOLMER, VULAKOVICH,

WAGNER AND WARD, MARCH 23, 2018

REFERRED TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 23, 2018

transparency and accountability by Federal agencies during

economically significant rulemakings that have major impacts

on businesses, states and local communities.

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the United States requires a

proper separation of powers between the three branches of

government, with lawmaking that is accountable to the people;

and

WHEREAS, Rulemakings by Federal agencies have overtaken

Congressional action as the primary vehicle for setting national

policy affecting state and local government, business and

rulemakings with estimated costs greater than $1 billion

increased dramatically over the past 10 years; and

WHEREAS, These rulemakings have significantly burdened State

and local government by requiring major expenditures of time,

staff and resources, in many cases with little or no Federal

funding assistance by the Federal agency imposing the

requirements; and

WHEREAS, Businesses have partially incorporated the cost of

compliance with these rulemakings into the price of their

products and services, thereby raising costs on families and

consumers; and

WHEREAS, The Regulatory Accountability Act is bipartisan

legislation amending the Administrative Procedure Act to require

Federal agencies proposing any major rule of greater than $100

million per year to involve the public, including State and

local governments, at the very outset of the rulemaking process,

to provide for administrative hearings to discuss and examine

any research or assumptions the agency is relying on to

establish high-impact rules with costs of greater than $1

billion per year, to provide a thorough and accurate cost-

benefit analysis of any rulemaking and to select the most cost-

of Representatives of the United States as H. R. 5 with a

bipartisan vote on January 11, 2017; and

WHEREAS, The Regulatory Accountability Act has been

introduced in the Senate of the United States by sponsors of

both parties as S. 951, has been favorably reported out of the

United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and

Government Affairs and is awaiting consideration on the Senate

floor; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

urge the Congress of the United States to reaffirm its role as

the primary policymaking branch of government; and be it further

urge that the Senate of the United States quickly consider and

adopt the Regulatory Accountability Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the presiding officers of each house of Congress and each member

of Congress from Pennsylvania.