SUPPORTING COMPREHENSIVE REGULATORY STREAMLINING AND REFORM

WHEREAS, the federal regulatory system must protect public health, welfare, safety and the environment while promoting economic growth, innovation, competitiveness and job creation; and

WHEREAS, President Obama issued a January 18th executive order calling for top to bottom review of federal regulations to get rid of outdated and harmful rules; and

WHEREAS, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has placed the issue of regulatory reform as a high priority, seeking input from business, individuals and industries regarding the impediments to navigating the bureaucracy; and

WHEREAS, the US Chamber of Commerce American Jobs and Growth Agenda includes a call for reforming the federal rulemaking process; and

WHEREAS, the Business Roundtable has called upon the Administration and Congress to act swiftly on comprehensive reforms to facilitate major projects such as designate a single agency to have primary permitting responsibility for projects, ensure that permits are processed by multiple agencies in parallel, work with businesses to develop best practices for prompt and timely evaluations, require that permits be issued in 180 days, and create a more stringent process for judicial review of federal permits; and

WHEREAS, President Obama has proposed a plan to re-organize American government to help small business by eliminating or combining government agencies such as those in the Commerce Department; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration has expedited pending large projects and is reviewing the way America’s transit projects are evaluated, including environmental reviews, in order to speed up the New Starts process and focus on transit options that fit local needs; and

WHEREAS, local governments and the private sector both often struggle with a "one size fits all" regulatory framework, redundant and inconsistent regulations and unnecessary delays in major project approval and processes.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors encourages Congress and the Administration to continue to undertake a comprehensive review of burdensome regulations, and streamline and expedite the federal permitting process for major projects in order to promote job creation, advance economic development and facilitate interaction with the federal government.