Vote Expected Today on Collins’ REINS Act

A vote is scheduled today on a bill re-introduced to Congress by 9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Collins introduced H.R. 26, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny, or REINS, Act, in one of the first acts of the 115th Congress.

According to Collins, executive agencies can currently unilaterally enact rules that have major economic consequences for Americans.

The REINS Act would require all new major rules, defined as those that have an impact of $100 million or more, to be approved by both Congress and the president before taking effect.

According to an article in the Washington Examiner, the U.S. House has passed the REINS Act three times, but each time the legislation has died in the Senate.

That Washington Examiner article said that Collins, who is the House Republican Conference’s new vice chairman, is taking the bill’s reins from Indiana Representative Todd Young, who won a Senate election in November.

The Hall County Republican told the Examiner that he is optimistic with the new administration that the bill could become law.

However, an opponent of the bill, Democratic Representative Chris Van Hollen, said the bill is unnecessary because Congress already has the power to alter and influence federal rule making.