Nebraskans are already wary of the red tape flowing from Washington. As the list of federal regulations under the Obama administration continues to grow, many people are concerned about the impacts these bureaucratic obstacles are having on their lives and livelihoods.
Throughout the Third District, I hear strong opposition to the Waters of the United States rule, or WOTUS. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed changes to the definition of WOTUS would expand federal jurisdiction to include nearly all bodies of water, from ditches to prairie potholes. This would place a massive regulatory burden on our nation’s farmers.
Last year, Congress passed and implemented language which blocked WOTUS implementation for agriculture. However, much work still needs to be done. I recently sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee asking them to include language in upcoming funding legislation to prohibit appropriating funds for WOTUS.
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) proposed a ban on M855 ammunition. Many Nebraskans contacted me with deep concerns about this unilateral action by the administration. Thankfully, the potential Second Amendment infringement was stopped in its tracks when tens of thousands of Americans, as well as Congress, made their opposition known.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is also making Nebraskans uneasy with its track record of using regulations to limit First Amendment rights. The congressional investigation into the IRS’s actions is ongoing. Meanwhile, the Ways and Means Committee passed seven bills last week to cut through red tape at the IRS with needed reforms, such as making political targeting a fireable offense and ensuring private citizens whose information is illegally leaked by IRS employees can be updated on the investigation.
Though we are making strides on these issues, the list of regulations keeps growing. I launched Regulation Rewind last year to fight back against the overreach of the federal government, and I am continuing this initiative in 2015. With your help, we can identify and find solutions to unnecessary federal regulations which hurt economic growth, limit opportunities for rural Americans, are inconsistent with the law, or are unfair.
We had a number of successes in Regulation Rewind’s first year. For example, many Nebraskans contacted me when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated its intent to regulate small farms, even though this is specifically prohibited by law. In response, I helped organize a coalition of more than 80 Members of Congress from both parties to write the Department of Labor opposing the regulation of small farms and challenging the department’s authority. The department quickly changed course and rescinded its proposal.
After hearing directly from health care professionals in the Third District about arbitrary regulations impacting Critical Access Hospitals, I also introduced two bills to ensure access to quality health care for rural Americans. The Critical Access Hospital Relief Act and the Rural Health Care Provider Relief Act have been referred to the Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve, and are garnering bipartisan support. Congress successfully blocked one regulation regarding physician supervision last year, and I have reintroduced these bills in the new Congress.
This year, we must continue our fight against an out-of-control bureaucracy. Please visit my website at www.AdrianSmith.house.gov/RegulationRewind to see an updated list of our efforts and to contact me with your examples. Thank you for partnering with me to stand against government overreach and reduce the regulatory burden on Nebraskans.
Last year, Congress passed and implemented language which blocked WOTUS implementation for agriculture. However, much work still needs to be done. I recently sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee asking them to include language in upcoming funding legislation to prohibit appropriating funds for WOTUS.
Earlier this year, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) proposed a ban on M855 ammunition. Many Nebraskans contacted me with deep concerns about this unilateral action by the administration. Thankfully, the potential Second Amendment infringement was stopped in its tracks when tens of thousands of Americans, as well as Congress, made their opposition known.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is also making Nebraskans uneasy with its track record of using regulations to limit First Amendment rights. The congressional investigation into the IRS’s actions is ongoing. Meanwhile, the Ways and Means Committee passed seven bills last week to cut through red tape at the IRS with needed reforms, such as making political targeting a fireable offense and ensuring private citizens whose information is illegally leaked by IRS employees can be updated on the investigation.
Though we are making strides on these issues, the list of regulations keeps growing. I launched Regulation Rewind last year to fight back against the overreach of the federal government, and I am continuing this initiative in 2015. With your help, we can identify and find solutions to unnecessary federal regulations which hurt economic growth, limit opportunities for rural Americans, are inconsistent with the law, or are unfair.
We had a number of successes in Regulation Rewind’s first year. For example, many Nebraskans contacted me when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated its intent to regulate small farms, even though this is specifically prohibited by law. In response, I helped organize a coalition of more than 80 Members of Congress from both parties to write the Department of Labor opposing the regulation of small farms and challenging the department’s authority. The department quickly changed course and rescinded its proposal.
After hearing directly from health care professionals in the Third District about arbitrary regulations impacting Critical Access Hospitals, I also introduced two bills to ensure access to quality health care for rural Americans. The Critical Access Hospital Relief Act and the Rural Health Care Provider Relief Act have been referred to the Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve, and are garnering bipartisan support. Congress successfully blocked one regulation regarding physician supervision last year, and I have reintroduced these bills in the new Congress.
This year, we must continue our fight against an out-of-control bureaucracy. Please visit my website at www.AdrianSmith.house.gov/RegulationRewind to see an updated list of our efforts and to contact me with your examples. Thank you for partnering with me to stand against government overreach and reduce the regulatory burden on Nebraskans.
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