WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today co-sponsored legislation to prevent the executive branch and federal agencies from unilaterally imposing burdensome, costly regulations on America’s families, businesses and local governments.

“Congress should be required to ‘check’ regulatory agencies and the executive branch to ensure they adhere to the intent and spirit of laws passed by Congress,” said Isakson. “That way we can prevent them from imposing costly, job-killing overly burdensome regulations on America's families, businesses and local governments before those regulations cause more harm than good.”

S.226, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015, or REINS Act, was introduced by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and would impose tough restrictions on unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies who write rules and regulations needed to carry out laws passed by Congress. Under the REINS Act, Congress would be required to take an up-or-down vote on every new major rule proposed by the executive branch before it could be implemented. The bill defines a major rule as one that is designated by the White House Office of Management and Budget as having an impact of $100 million or more.

In addition to Isakson, the bill has 30 original co-sponsors in the Senate. Identical legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House.

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