The Problem: Unchecked Bureaucracy
For years, Washington bureaucrats have been writing rules with the force of law — without ever being held accountable to the people. Agencies push out thousands of pages of regulations each year, many with price tags in the billions, burdening businesses, communities, and families.
The result is a government run more by unelected bureaucrats than by the representatives Americans actually elect. Decisions that should be debated in Congress are instead dictated from behind closed doors.
The Solution: Congressional Oversight of Major Rules
The REINS Act — short for Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny — restores accountability where it belongs: in Congress. It requires that any major regulation, those costing more than $100 million annually, must be approved by Congress before taking effect.
That means no more sweeping rules imposed on the economy without your elected representatives having a say.
How It Works
- Defines “major rules” as those with significant economic costs or impacts.
- Requires a vote in Congress before such rules can be enforced.
- Stops bureaucratic overreach by making agencies answerable to the people through their representatives.
- Shifts power back to where the Constitution intended — the legislative branch.
Why It Matters
Every law that affects your job, your energy bills, or your small business should be made by people you elect — not bureaucrats you never voted for.
The REINS Act is about restoring balance, accountability, and trust. It ensures that Washington rules come only with the consent of the governed, not by the unchecked hand of the administrative state.