Proponents argue that many federal agency regulations are unnecessary and are costly to businesses. They say some agencies, such as the EPA, routinely impose expensive mandates that are well outside of their statutory authority granted by Congress. They add that these mandates keep American businesses from being able to compete fairly in the marketplace.

“Our federal agencies are out of control, and Congress is partly to blame for that. We’ve ceded our legislative responsibility to agencies that were never intended to make laws, and the result has been redundant, counterproductive rules that have massive impacts on our economy. I’m introducing the REINS Act to bring accountability to these agencies through Congressional and presidential oversight,” said Congressman Collins.

Opponents say that the REINS Act would undermine the government’s ability to set regulations that protect the population from harmful products, including toys and other household items. It would also restrain the EPA from regulating dangerous pollution that causes asthma and other lung ailments, including cancer. They add that regulations are a necessary cost of doing business in a responsible way.