House Commerce Committee Leaders Follow Up on FCC’s Plans to Identify Job-Crushing Regulations

Leaders from the House Commerce Committee sent a follow-up letter to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Cass Sunstein to further discuss independent agencies’ cooperation with President Obama’s Executive Order to identify and eliminate burdensome regulations.

Sunstein appeared before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on June 3 and testified that, to date, only one independent agency had provided a plan. Even though the Executive Order does not bind independent agencies to participate, the Federal Communications Commission has also agreed to cooperate and eliminate additional antiquated regulations.

Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) wrote to Sunstein, “In recent correspondence with the Federal Communications Commission, the committee has stressed the importance of eliminating burdensome regulations that no longer serve the public interest. A thorough review of FCC and other independent agency regulations and the repeal of outdated rules will unleash private sector investment, spur growth, and create jobs for the American people. While independent agencies like the FCC are not required to conduct a regulatory review under the terms of the executive order, you testified that you hoped they would voluntarily agree to do so."

The lawmakers ask for a response in two weeks.