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, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012 (MAP-21) included reforms to reduce project delivery time and costs; and

WHEREAS, the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization recently approved by the Senate includes reforms to accelerate Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) project approvals and delivery processes; and

WHEREAS, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 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, 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, in 2012, President Obama issued executive orders calling for top to bottom review of federal regulations and permitting processes to get rid of outdated and harmful rules and to reduce the time required to make review and permitting decisions; and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, on May 17, 2013, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the modernization of review and permitting regulations, policies, and procedures for the Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation, Energy, and Homeland Security; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the Department of the Army; the Council on Environmental Quality; and other applicable agencies; 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 United States 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.