Keystone XL Pipeline Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, last week my colleague Senator Lankford
and I introduced the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency
Act--a bill to enhance transparency about the true costs of burdensome
Federal regulations affecting our States and localities.

Twenty years ago the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, otherwise known as
UMRA, was signed into law to reduce the burden of Federal mandates on
State and local governments, as well as the private sector. The statute
was intended to fix a simple problem while promoting informed decisions
by this Congress. But since UMRA's enactment in 1995, many remain
concerned that the law has fallen short. In Nebraska and all across
America, our constituents continue to face a growing mountain of
redtape that stifles economic growth and holds back progress on a
number of fronts.

In 2011 alone the Government Accountability Office identified 14
different loopholes that would allow government agencies to avoid
conducting the UMRA analysis. In other words, redtape has survived and
prospered. By their very nature, Federal mandates are both complex and
vague, which is why I have introduced a new bill to fix these
shortcomings and increase accountability. My bill, known as the
Unfunded Mandates and Information Transparency Act, would address
UMRA's loopholes by mandating stricter agency requirements, enhance
stakeholder input, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

Furthermore, this bill has the power to get the job done. It would
allow judges to place a stay on a regulation or invalidate a rule if a
Federal agency fails to complete the required UMRA analysis. It would also close a glaring loophole used by agencies to skirt UMRA requirements.

Last but not least, my bill would expand the scope of reporting
requirements to include regulations imposed by independent regulatory
agencies, such as the EPA. I know many Nebraskans are deeply concerned
about the effects of new EPA requirements, such as the proposed water
rule--a rule I have forcefully fought since it was first proposed.
Nebraskans already go to great lengths to protect and preserve water
resources within our State, but now the EPA is going overboard with
this new proposal--one that represents a massive Federal power grab and
clear disconnect with Main Street America.

I share the belief of many Nebraskans that the Federal Government
should be held responsible for the rules it puts into place. By clearly
notifying taxpayers of the costs of each mandate, which the bill I
introduced would require, we can better hold the Federal Government
accountable for the economic impact of its costly regulations.

I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in
supporting this simple, commonsense legislation to help bring greater
accountability and transparency to Washington.

I thank the Presiding Officer and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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