The Regulatory Accountability Act
OUR POSITION: CSS opposes the bill and urges lawmakers to vote against it.
The Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) would cripple the process for issuing and enforcing regulations that ensure we have clean air and water, healthy food and consumer products, fair wages, safe workplaces and many other key protections.
The 2017 Senate version of the RAA would paralyze the rulemaking process by adding dozens of cumbersome analytic and procedural requirements, allowing more political and judicial interference and rigging the process so that corporate profits come before protecting the public. The bill’s purposefully vague language – and its baffling revival of an antiquated and exclusionary trial-like process known as adversarial rulemaking – appears designed to fulfill Steve Bannon’s vision of “deconstructing the administrative state.”
The 2017 House version of the RAA is far worse than the Senate version of the bill as well as the previous versions of the bill because it includes half a dozen major anti-regulatory measures from the 114th Congress: the Regulatory Accountability Act, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, the REVIEW Act, the ALERT Act, the Separation of Powers Restoration Act and the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act.
Hashtag: #GoAwayRAA
CSS Resources
Families Harmed by Deregulation Blast the Regulatory Accountability Act
Press Release: August 10, 2017
Deregulatory Disasters: Americans Harmed by Deregulation Speak Out Against the Regulatory Accountability Act
Press Release: August 2, 2017
Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 (S. 951) Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: May 23, 2017
Progressive Community Opposes the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 (S. 951)
Letter to Members: May 16, 2017
CSS Opposes the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 (S. 951)
Letter to Members: May 16, 2017
Damaging Regulatory Legislation in HSGAC Mark-Up
Fact Sheet: May 16, 2017
CSS Leadership Blasts the Regulatory Accountability Act, Introduced in the Senate
Press Release: April 26, 2017
House Should Reject the Regulatory Accountability Act, Which Endangers the Public
Press Release: January 11, 2017
CSS Opposes the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017 (H.R. 5)
Letter to Members: January 10, 2017
Regulatory Accountability Act Is a Frankenstein’s Monster Built to Block and Delay Public Protections
Press Release: January 5, 2017
House Republicans Poised to Gut Our System of Public Protections
Press Release: January 4, 2017
Corporate Congress Trying to Kill Public Safeguards
Editorial Board Alert: March 4, 2015
CSS Opposes the McKinley Amendment to the Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) of 2015, H.R. 185
Letter to Members: January 13, 2015
The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015: Legislation Would Override and Threaten Decades of Public Protections
Fact Sheet: January 12, 2015
Extreme RAA Would Sabotage Major Health, Safety, Consumer and Environmental Protections
Press Release: January 12, 2015
Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 185 — The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015
White House Veto Threat: January 12, 2015
CSS Opposes the Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) of 2015, H.R. 185
Letter to Members: January 9, 2015
CSS Opposes S. 1029, The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013
Letter to Members: June 5, 2013
The Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) of 2013: Legislation Would Override and Threaten Decades of Public Protections
Fact Sheet: June 5, 2013
“Regulatory Paralysis Act” Threatens to Weaken Nation’s Primary Health, Safety and Environmental Laws
Press Release: May 24, 2013
House Jeopardizes Public Health and Safety with Irresponsible Regulatory Accountability Act
Press Release: December 2, 2011
The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011: Legislation Would Override and Threaten Decades of Public Protections
Fact Sheet: November 22, 2011
Impacts of the Regulatory Accountability Act: Overturning 65 Years of Law and Leaving Americans Less Protected
Report: November 16, 2011
Regulatory Accountability Act Puts the Public in Harm’s Way: New Paper Provides Specific Examples of Proposed Bill’s Impact
Press Release: November 16, 2011
House Judiciary Committee Approves Atrocious Regulatory Accountability Act; Bill With “Bipartisan” Facade Threatens Vital Public Safeguards
Press Release: November 3, 2011
Regulatory Accountability Act is Another Attempt to Weaken Vital Public Safeguards
Press Release: September 22, 2011
Resources from Members and Allies
Regulatory Bill Could be Dangerous for FDA, Public Health
Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society: December 21, 2017
It Is Up to Us to Protect Our Kids
OK, Dani: November 20, 2017
Act Now to Protect Our Kids with Moms Clean Air Action
Spit That Out: November 17, 2017
Keep Your Child Safe in Less Than One Minute
Hello Nature: November 16, 2017
Speaking Up to Keep Kids Safe: What You Need to Know
Darcy and Brian: November 16, 2017
Why the REINS and RAA Acts Jeopardize Keeping Kids Safe and Healthy
House of Bren: November 15, 2017
Take Action for Kids in One Simple Step
A Grande Life: November 10, 2017
Clean Air is Essential: Protect our Kids and Take Action
Christy’s Cozy Corners: November 9, 2017
Take Action to Protect Our Kids: Clean Air Moms Initiative
Guide4Moms: November 4, 2017
A Simple Way to Keep Your Kids Safe (and Make Parenting Easier)
Hollow Tree Ventures: November 3, 2017
Take Action to Protect Our Children
Another Jennifer: November 2, 2017
This is How We Protect Our Kids
Motherhood — The Truth: November 1, 2017
One Easy Thing You Can Do Today to Keep Your Children Safe
The Mama Bird Diaries: October 30, 2017
Portman Flees Tough Questions About Big Polluters Backing His Signature Anti-Regulatory Legislation
Public Citizen: August 7, 2017
Stop This Assault on Science: The Regulatory Accountability Act
Union of Concerned Scientists: July 25, 2017
Lobbying in High Gear with Prospect of Regulatory Reform in Congress
OpenSecrets.org: July 25, 2017
A Dangerous Big Business Giveaway
Center for Science in the Public Interest: July 14, 2017
How the U.S. Can Prevent a Fire Like Grenfell Tower
TalkPoverty.org: June 30, 2017
Portman’s Regulatory Accountability Act Would Endanger Children
Public Citizen: June 26, 2017
Congress Is About to Deregulate You to Death
RedGreenAndBlue: June 15, 2017
The Regulatory Accountability Act Is a Threat to Small Businesses
Main Street Alliance: June 6, 2017
Regulatory Accountability Act Would Let Corporations Rig the Rules and Block Lifesaving Protections
Public Citizen: June 6, 2017
Stop the Filthy Food Act
Consumer Federation of America: June 1, 2017
Republican Antiregulatory Agenda Continues Despite Losing the CRA
Economic Policy Institute: May 19, 2017
The Real Lowdown: The Trump and Congressional Republican Assault on Our Environment, Vol. 11
Natural Resources Defense Council: May 19, 2017
What Do These Regulatory Rollback Champions Have in Common? Anti-Consumer Donors.
Environmental Working Group: May 18, 2017
11 Medical and Public Health Groups Oppose the RAA
American Lung Association: May 17, 2017
Why the Senate Should Reject the ‘License to Kill’ Bill
Environmental Working Group: May 17, 2017
Oppose S. 951, S.34, S.21 – Radical Attacks on New Public Health and Environmental Safeguards in the Guise of “Regulatory Reform”
League of Conservation Voters: May 16, 2017
CFA Urges Senate Committee to Oppose the Regulatory Accountability Act
Consumer Federation of America: May 16, 2017
Letter to the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on Four “Regulatory Reform” Bills
Consumers Union: May 16, 2017
List of Proposed Protections That Could Be Blocked by the RAA
Natural Resources Defense Council: May 16, 2017
63 Financial Reform Groups Oppose the RAA
Americans for Financial Reform: May 16, 2017
Ahead of Markup, CPR Member Scholars Voice Concerns Over the Senate Regulatory Accountability Act
Center for Progressive Reform: May 16, 2017
Corporate Lobbyists Finance Senate Leader of ‘License to Kill’ Bill
Environmental Working Group: May 16, 2017
One of Many Risks of the Regulatory Accountability Act: Flawed Risk Assessment Guidelines
Union of Concerned Scientists: May 16, 2017
27 Scholars Raise Serious Concerns About the Regulatory Accountability Act
Center for Progressive Reform: May 15, 2017
The Senate Is About to Pass a Bill That Could Keep Asbestos and Other Deadly Chemicals Legal
Environmental Working Group: May 15, 2017
Attack on Food Safety Rules Is Life or Death Issue for Allergy Sufferers
Environmental Defense Fund: May 12, 2017
The Regulatory Accountability Act Would Spread the Asbestos Problem
Center for American Progress: May 12, 2017
Here’s the Scariest Legislation You’ve Never Heard Of
Environmental Defense Fund: May 11, 2017
Red Tape and Over-Reach: That Is the Regulatory Accountability Act, in a Word – and a Graphic
Environmental Defense Fund: May 11, 2017
Regulatory Accountability Act Would Wrap Red Tape Around Our Most Important Health and Safety Protections
Environmental Defense Fund: May 10, 2017
5 Reasons Why the Regulatory Accountability Act is Bad for Science
Union of Concerned Scientists: May 9, 2017
The Powerful Corporations Pushing to Unravel Protections for Consumers, Public Health, and the Environment
Center for American Progress: May 9, 2017
Trump’s Regulatory Accountability Act Is a License to Kill
Center for American Progress: May 9, 2017
New But Not Improved: The New Regulatory Accountability Act Would Severely Threaten TSCA Implementation and Many Other Vital Health Protections
Environmental Defense Fund: May 4, 2017
Anything But Moderate: The Senate Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017
Center for Progressive Reform: May 2, 2017
Summary of S. 951
Center for Progressive Reform: May 2, 2017
Section-by-Section Analysis of S. 951
Center for Progressive Reform: May 2, 2017
Anti-Consumer Lobby Gave Big to Senator Pushing Regulatory Accountability Act
Environmental Working Group: April 26, 2017
The Regulatory Accountability Act Subverts Science and Must Be Stopped
Union of Concerned Scientists: April 26, 2017
Understanding the Anti-Regulation Agenda: The Basics
Economic Policy Institute: April 11, 2017
No Rules? No Food Safety
Environmental Working Group: March 17, 2017
Meanwhile, in Reality … Congress Works on Legislation to Inhibit Federal Safety Standards
Former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.): March 15, 2017
Who Pays for Rolling Back Regulations?
Center for American Progress: March 13, 2017
Congress Just Fixed TSCA – Yet Is Now Gearing Up to Re-Impose the Worst Flaws of the Old Law Across the Entire Federal Government
Environmental Defense Fund: March 8, 2017
How the Regulatory Accountability Act Will Ensure Contaminated Food and Water, Dirty Air, Toxic Toys
Natural Resources Defense Council: March 6, 2017
Misguided Regulatory Accountability Act Will Increase Red Tape, Obstruct Vital Safeguards for Millions of Americans
Environmental Defense Fund: March 6, 2017
The One Fight We Can’t Lose
Environmental Working Group: March 6, 2017
How the So-Called “Regulatory Accountability Act” Will Ensure Contaminated Food and Water, Dirty Air, Riskier Air Travel & Nuclear Plants
Natural Resources Defense Council: February 23, 2017
No, Chemical Industry, You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too (Part 2)
Environmental Defense Fund: February 10, 2017
Deregulation Nation: Congress Wants to Let Corporations Take Charge
Center for American Progress: January 27, 2017
Public Health and Medical Groups Oppose the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017
American Lung Association, et. al.: January 11, 2017
Regulatory Accountability Act (Scorecard)
AFL-CIO: January 11, 2017
13 Environmental Groups Oppose the Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA), H.R. 5
Natural Resources Defense Council: January 10, 2017
ALA Opposes the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017
American Lung Association: January 10, 2017
CR-CU Letter to the U.S. House Opposing H.R. 5, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017
Consumer Reports and Consumers Union: January 10, 2017
Analytical and Procedural Requirements Mandated by the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015
Center for Progressive Reform: December 13, 2016
Unsafe Delays: An Empirical Analysis Shows That Federal Rulemakings To Protect the Public Are Taking Longer Than Ever
Public Citizen: June 28, 2016
Letter to Representatives in Opposition to H.R. 185, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015
AFL-CIO: January 13, 2015
Big Polluters’ Allies in Congress Push Bill to Block Health and Environmental Protections
Sierra Club: January 13, 2015
EarthJustice Statement on House Vote on “the Regulatory Accountability Act”
EarthJustice: January 13, 2015
114th Congress Begins Attack on Public Protections with So-Called Regulatory Accountability Act
Center for Effective Government: January 12, 2015
New Congress Prepares to Take Away Your Right to Clean, Safe Air
Natural Resources Defense Council: January 12, 2015
Letter of Opposition to the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015
Consumers Union: January 12, 2015
Oppose Legislation on House Floor to Undermine Crucial Consumer Protections, H.R. 185
Consumer Federation of America: January 12, 2015
Reject HR 185, the Regulatory Accountability Act
Americans for Financial Reform: January 12, 2015
Oppose H.R. 185, Legislation that Cripples Public Protection
League of Conservation Voters: January 12, 2015
Letter Opposing Regulatory Accountability Act
U.S. PIRG: January 12, 2015
Modernization? The Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 Adds 74 New Steps to the Rule-Making Process
Center for Progressive Reform: January 9, 2015
Beware of This Zombie Bill: The Regulatory Accountability Act Returns from the Dead
Union of Concerned Scientists: January 9, 2015
The Regulatory Accountability Act
House Committee on the Judiciary: October 25, 2011
Sidney Shapiro, Center for Progressive Reform
Press Coverage
Don’t Slow Down Consumer Protections
The Naples Daily News: December 10, 2017
Protecting Kids From Cars: My Brother’s Legacy
The Montana Standard: October 3, 2017
The Congressional Bill That Puts Profit Over Public Health
Pacific Standard: October 2, 2017
Regulatory Bill Threatens Protections for Montanans, Critics Say
Public News Service: September 29, 2017
The RAA’s Red Tape Could Make Toys Less Safe
The Journal News: September 29, 2017
Bill Puts American Workers Last
The Northwest Indiana Times: September 28, 2017
This Bill in Congress Threatens the Health and Safety of Maine Kids
The Bangor Daily News: September 24, 2017
Regulatory Accountability Act Would Undermine Our Ability to Do Business
Central Maine: September 19, 2017
Fighting for Life and Protecting Our Children
The Columbia Daily Tribune: September 13, 2017
We Need More Car Regulation to Keep Kids Safe
The Richmond Times-Dispatch: September 12, 2017
Rules to Keep Maine Families Safe and Healthy
The Sun Journal: September 12, 2017
Critics Worry Bill Would Harm Food Safety
The Bulletin: August 25, 2017
Stacking the Deck: The Regulatory Accountability Act’s Threat to Civil Rights
The American Prospect: August 24, 2017
This Regulatory ‘Reform’ Could Roll Back Car Safety, Cost American Lives
The Hill: August 23, 2017
Green Group Launches Ad Against Regs Reform
The Hill: August 21, 2017
The Regulatory Accountability Act and the Obsolescence of Formal Rulemaking
The Regulatory Review: August 21, 2017
Would Rob Portman Cost-Benefit Bill Gut Regulations, or Keep Them Fair?
The Columbus Dispatch: August 20, 2017
Local Group Questions Sen. Portman’s Regulatory Accountability Act
WFMJ: August 17, 2017
People Tell Their Tragic Stories to Try to Slow Trump’s Rule-Killing Drive
The Huffington Post: August 10, 2017
Maine Legislator Discusses Lead Contamination Issues
WCSH6: August 9, 2017
Battle Against Lead: Trump Administration Bill Has Maine Property Owners Worried
Maine Public Radio: August 8, 2017
GOP Senator Laughs in Woman’s Face When Asked to Stop Taking Fossil Fuel Money
The Huffington Post: August 4, 2017
AFL-CIO Decries ‘War on Regulatory Protections’
Safety + Health: August 3, 2017
Lobbying Shifts Into High Gear With Prospect of Regulatory Reform in Congress
Truthout: July 27, 2017
Prioritize Safety, Principles Before Ideology
The Times-Tribune: July 23, 2017
Don’t Fall for Mick Mulvaney’s MAGAnomics Nonsense
Fortune: July 18, 2017
Are Tainted Food, Drug-Resistant Disease and Toxic Chemicals Coming?
Who What Why: July 17, 2017
Senate Bill Will Gum Up Protections for Ordinary Folk
The Philadelphia Tribune: July 11, 2017
The Senate Bill That Puts the Public at Risk
CNN: July 6, 2017
Thanks to McAuliffe for Climate Action
The Roanoke Times: July 6, 2017
Tangling Life-Saving Regulations in Red Tape
The Hill: July 5, 2017
California Attorney General Urges U.S. Senate to Oppose Regulatory Accountability Act
Legal News Line: July 5, 2017
Ruining Regulations
The Westminster Window: July 5, 2017
Don’t Weaken Health, Wildlife Protections
Lancaster Online: June 30, 2017
Group Warns of ‘Lethal Lunchboxes’ in Ad Hitting Portman Bill
E&E News: June 29, 2017
Regulatory Bill Draws Criticism
The Ironton Tribune: June 29, 2017
Independent Agency Rules Could See Executive Oversight
Bloomberg BNA: June 27, 2017
A.G. Schneiderman Leads 12-State Coalition In Opposing Regulatory Rollbacks That Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health & Safety
LongIsland.com: June 27, 2017
Oppose Legislative License to Make Kids Sick
The Montana Standard: June 21, 2017
Contact Senators to Oppose Regulatory Accountability Act
The Meadville Tribune: June 16, 2017
Regulatory ‘Reform’ That Is Anything But
The New York Times: June 15, 2017
Vote No on Regulatory Accountability Act
Lancaster Online: June 9, 2017
Washington’s Quiet Revolution to Destroy Consumer Protection
The Hill: June 1, 2017
The Scariest Piece of Federal Legislation That You’ve Never Heard Of
Medium: June 1, 2017
The Chamber of Commerce Wants to Rig the Game Against the American People
The Hill: May 25, 2017
Tennessee Consumer Safety Could Be at Risk, Bill’s Opponents
Public News Service: May 23, 2017
Protecting America From Corporate Abuse Is About to Get a Lot Harder
The Week: May 22, 2017
The “License to Kill” Bill Is As Terrifying As It Sounds
Mother Jones: May 22, 2017
Portman’s Regulatory Reform Bill Will Increase Costs, Bureaucracy
The Cincinnati Enquirer: May 22, 2017
Will U.S. Senate Make It Harder to Enact Regulations?
Public News Service: May 22, 2017
Under-the-Radar Legislation Threatens to Undermine Federal Protection of Health and Environment
Forbes: May 21, 2017
Groups Oppose ‘Mother of All Anti-Regulation Bills’
Public News Service: May 19, 2017
Heitkamp, Manchin Under Pressure Over GOP Regs Bill
The Hill: May 18, 2017
Requiring Formal Rulemaking Is a Thinly Veiled Attempt to Halt Regulation
The Regulatory Review: May 18, 2017
Senate Tees Up ‘Accountability Act’ as Regulation Fight Intensifies
Reuters: May 17, 2107
Without Public Protections, Florida Will Suffer
The Pensacola New Journal: May 17, 2017
While Faking Concern for the ‘Best’ Science, Congress Launches an Attack on Environmental Regulations
The Los Angeles Times: May 15, 2017
Missouri Man Pleads with Congress for Tougher Food-Safety Laws
Missouri News Service / KMA Land: May 13, 2017
Watchdog Groups Decry “Attack” on Consumer Protections
CBS News: May 10, 2017
Ditch the Flawed Legislative Proposal to Police Agency Communications
The Regulatory Review: May 10, 2017
Protect Families, Not Industry
The Salt Lake Tribune: May 9, 2017
Coalition Opposes ‘Extremist’ Regulatory Accountability Act
Safety + Health Magazine: May 4, 2017
Millions of Americans Are Drinking Contaminated Water—and Don’t Even Know It
Mother Jones: May 3, 2017
America’s Food Supply Is Potentially at Stake, Thanks to Trump
The Huffington Post: May 2, 2017
How Congress Could Make Steve Bannon’s Wildest Dream Come True
Yahoo Finance: May 2, 2017
Sen. Rob Portman’s Push to Peel Back Regulations Meets Fierce Criticism
The Cleveland Plain Dealer: April 28, 2017
The War on Regulation
The American Prospect: April 17, 2017
The Misguided Regulatory Accountability Act
RegBlog: March 29, 2017
‘Filthy Food Bill’ Draws Fire From Host of Food Safety Advocates
Food Safety News: March 22, 2017
Regulation Against Lead Under Attack
The Missourian: March 20, 2017
The GOP Plan to Prevent a Repeat of Obama’s Climate Action
Common Dreams: February 8, 2017
The Quiet GOP Campaign Against Government Regulation
The Atlantic: January 26, 2017
Quietly Passed Act Favors Profits Over Health and Safety
Fort Worth Star Telegram: January 20, 2017
The End of Government Oversight?
The Atlantic: January 13, 2017
A New Law that Could Cripple the Federal Government
Talking Points Memo: January 12, 2017
Rules to Protect Workers Have Experienced ‘Historic’ Delays
Safety + Health Magazine: June 29, 2016
Industry-Funded Lawmakers Target Public Health and Environmental Protections
The Huffington Post: June 11, 2016
Republicans Want It Both Ways on Agency Independence
The Hill: March 29, 2016
A Lesson From Scalia: Regulatory Reform Is Obstruction
The Hill: February 25, 2016
VW and GM Scandals Show Why Regulation Matters
The Hill: September 30, 2015
House Votes to End All Major New Rules, Again
The Huffington Post: July 28, 2015
Industry-Funded Lawmakers Target Public Health and Environmental Protections
The Huffington Post: June 11, 2015
Radical Deregulation Won’t Bring Real Growth
The Huffington Post: March 17, 2015
Five Dumb Bills Just Passed by the House Would Screw the Environment
Grist: February 28, 2015
Science Under Attack in the 114th Congress
The Hill: February 17, 2015
New Life for ‘Zombie’ Regs Bills in Congress
The Hill: February 17, 2015
The GOP’s Plan to Stop Environmental Protections: Attack Science
The Washington Post: January 28, 2015
Republican-Led Congress Opens with Broad Attack on Regulation
MintPress News: January 23, 2015
How Congress is Cutting Science Out of Science Policy
Yahoo! News: January 16, 2015
Regulatory Accountability Act Passes House, President Threatens Veto
Food Safety News: January 15, 2015
Radical Deregulation Won’t Bring Real Growth
The Huffington Post: January 15, 2015
Republicans Use ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’ Strategy to Deregulate Wall Street
The Guardian: January 14, 2015
House Votes to Delay Regulations to Protect the Public by Ten Years or More
The Huffington Post: January 14, 2015
House Passes Bill to Make Everything Harder And Worse
ThinkProgress: January 14, 2015
House ‘Regulatory Accountability Act’ Could Hobble FCC
Wireless Week: January 14, 2015
Enviros Call Regulatory Reform Bill an ‘Attack’ on Safeguards
Law360: January 14, 2015
House Tries to Stop All New Government Rules
The Huffington Post: January 13, 2015
Sneaky Bills Set Tone for New Congress
SustainableBusiness.com: January 13, 2015
White House Issues Veto Threat for House Regulatory Accountability Act
Reuters: January 12, 2015
Obama Waves Veto Pen at GOP Regulations Bill
The Hill: January 12, 2015
House to Vote on Bill Targeting Obama Regs
The Hill: January 12, 2015
Regulatory Accountability Act Reintroduced in House
The Hill: January 7, 2015