SENATORS COLLINS, BARRASSO, ROBERTS INTRODUCE BILL TO CUT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RED TAPE, PROMOTE JOB GROWTH

March 17, 2011

U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) have introduced legislation that would obligate federal agencies to consider the potential impacts to small businesses and job growth before imposing new rules and regulations.  The "Clearing Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens," or CURB Act, would require federal agencies to analyze the indirect costs of regulations, such as the impact on job creation, the cost of energy, and consumer prices.  In addition, this legislation would obligate federal agencies to comply with public notice and comment requirements and prohibit them from circumventing these requirements by issuing unofficial rules as ''guidance documents," and it would allow the regional offices of the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy to provide assistance to small businesses seeking waivers from onerous penalties the first time they fail to comply with a paperwork requirement, as long as no harm comes from that failure.

"Small businesses are our job creators.  In the last decade, America's small businesses have created about 70 percent of all new jobs.  We simply must target our efforts toward helping these businesses start-up, grow, and prosper," said Senator Collins.  "Far too often, Congress directs federal policies toward those businesses deemed too big to fail.  Instead, we must redirect our efforts toward those small businesses that are too entrepreneurial to ignore, and we must ensure that federal regulations do not impose unnecessary burdens that hamper job creation. "

"Small business owners, entrepreneurs and innovators are being overwhelmed by bureaucratic red tape," said Senator Barrasso.  "Our bill delivers common sense to Washington's ever growing maze of regulations.  America's job creators deserve the right to comment on regulations, know their costs and receive information during the process. Washington should work for them, not against them. Our bill is one more step in our ongoing fight to protect freedom and the American dream."

"Time and again I hear from Kansans and people across the country telling me to get the federal government out of their way," said Senator Roberts. "They express frustration with duplicative, burdensome and occasionally ridiculous regulations coming out of Washington, keeping them from creating jobs and hurting their bottom line. It is time we consider the economic effects of this red tape and return the government to a partner in success instead of an obstacle."

The CURB Act mirrors amendments that Senator Collins introduced Wednesday to the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer bill which is currently on the Senate floor.