Support H.R.8204: Regulatory Early Notice and Engagement Act

The Problem:

Did you know that only 17% of rules, less than one-fifth, are directed by Congress, and that most are initiated at the instigation of regulators?

The Solution:

H.R. 8204, the “Regulatory Early Notice and Engagement Act (RENEA),” introduced in May 2024 by Reps. Reschenthaler, Davis, and Burchett, aims to increase transparency, accountability, and public engagement at federal agencies by requiring they provide specific information when proposing a rulemaking.

The Ask:

We encourage you to co-sponsor H.R. 8204, the Regulatory Early Notice and Engagement Act. This bipartisan legislation would reform the federal regulatory process to make it more transparent, accountable, and responsive to the public. The end result will be smarter, growth-oriented regulation.

Bill Summary:

H.R. 8204, if enacted, would require federal agencies to maintain a regulatory early notice webpage on their websites. One week after initiating a new rulemaking activity, a federal agency would have to make public on its website and send to Congress a regulatory early notice, which must:

Identify the problem the rule is intended to address and state whether the rule is required by law, necessary to interpret law, or made necessary to address a compelling public need, such as a material failure of private markets.
State whether existing regulations (or other laws) have created, or contributed to, the problem that a new regulation is intended to correct.
State whether the agency identified and assessed available alternatives to direct regulation, including the alternative of not regulating.
Invite the public to provide the agency with recommendations on how to accomplish the objectives of the rule most effectively and at least cost.

Further, the bill would require the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to develop and maintain a database containing each regulatory early notice and report to Congress on agency compliance with the Act. The GAO already maintains a searchable database of final rules sent to it by federal agencies to implement a Congressional Review Act.

Support for H.R. 8204

This legislation has overwhelming support from America’s business community, including the following groups:

Alliance for Chemical Distribution
American Chemistry Council
American Cleaning Institute
American Coatings Association
American Exploration & Mining Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
American Iron and Steel Institute
American Petroleum Institute
American Road & Transportation Builders Association
AmericanHort
Association of American Railroads
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA)
Communications Cable & Connectivity Association
Composite Panel Association
Consumer Technology Association
CropLife America
Decorative Hardwoods Association
Essential Minerals Association
International Sign Association
IPC – Build Electronics Better
Lawn & Horticultural Products Work Group
National Asphalt Pavement Association
National Association of Home Builders
National Automobile Dealers Association
National Cotton Council
National Grain and Feed Association
National Federation of Independent Businesses
National Stone Sand & Gravel Association
North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers
North American Meat Institute
Plastics Industry Association
Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Polymeric Exterior Products Association
PRINTING United Alliance
SOCMA
Southern Crop Production Association
The Fertilizer Institute
The Recycled Materials Association
The Vinyl Institute
Treated Wood Council
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
USA Rice

Benefits of Regulatory Oversight Backed by Data

A May 2024 study by PPI found that if agencies shared their philosophy behind regulations, public confidence in regulation would improve, and elected officials could better exercise oversight.

Click here to read the full study.