Press Releases

Today, Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) introduced two pieces of legislation, which would attack waste in our bureaucracy and ensure federal agencies are held accountable to private citizens and small businesses during the rulemaking process: the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act and the Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act.

 "Good governance begins with accountability, and nowhere is this needed more than in our federal bureaucracy,”  Rep. Cline said. “These common-sense bills make critical improvements to the rulemaking process by placing a necessary check on agency regulators.”

Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act

The Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvement Act would require federal regulators to assess the full economic effects of proposed regulations on small businesses and consider alternative measures to reduce burdens before they act. 

Cosponsor: Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL)

Supporters: NFIB, Heritage Action

Read the full bill text here and a one-pager here.

Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act

The Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act would require all rules proposed by federal agencies, except in limited circumstances, to be signed and issued by an individual appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Cosponsors: Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)

Supporters: Pacific Legal Foundation, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action

Read the full bill text here and a one-pager here.

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

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