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16 May 2017

The Honorable Ron Johnson


U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Johnson:

We write today, on behalf of more than three million activists and volunteers in all 50 states in support of the
U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committees work to roll back regulatory red tape.
Specifically, we urge strong support for two bills scheduled to be marked up this week: the Regulations from
the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2017 (S. 21) and the Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA)
of 2017 (S. 951).

Over the past several years, federal regulations have piled up and weakened competition and slowed our
economy. American consumers, businesses, and families have all paid the price in a multitude of ways. They
have paid in higher costs for the goods and services they use every day, in fewer choices because innovations
and new technologies never emerge, and in fewer job prospects because small business just cannot compete. We
do not know all the opportunities that have been lost, but we know regulations have caused our economy to
shrink, estimates are as high as $4 trillion.

The two reform bills under consideration this week are critical to removing this burden and reasserting
Congresss constitutional authority over the rulemaking process.

Unelected bureaucrats have had free reign to rule without concern for the impacts on everyday Americans for
too many years. The REINS Act will restore balance and accountability in the rulemaking process by requiring
elected officials, accountable to the people, to vote on major rules before they can take effect.

Federal agencies have also enacted regulations based on political and social motives, rather than addressing
actual harms in an economic manner. The RAA will improve regulatory analysis by requiring the data to
withstand scientific scrutiny. It will also direct agencies to use cost benefit analysis and adopt the most cost-
effective alternative.

We commend this committees commitment to reining in the regulatory state and putting rules on the rule
makers. AFP is proud to stand in support of the REINS Act and the RAA. We urge all Senators to support
passage of these bills and we look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Chrissy Harbin
Vice President of External Relations
Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) exists to recruit, educate, and mobilize citizens in support of the policies and goals of a free society at the local, state, and federal level, helping every
American live their dream especially the least fortunate. AFP has more than 3.2 million activists across the nation, a local infrastructure that includes 36 state chapters, and has received
financial support from more than 100,000 Americans in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.AmericansForProsperity.org.

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