A group of Republican senators have written the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to suggest the phasing out of all federal regulations which have been waived because of the pandemic.
The group, led by Utah Sen. Mike Lee, said the rules should go through a regulatory review process to determine whether they should be modified, repealed, or maintained.
“As the United States begins to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and their employees will continue to face obstacles as they work to navigate a new and more challenging environment,” the senators wrote. “We think it is essential that the federal government do more to provide a roadmap for businesses that is paved without unnecessary roadblocks and burdensome regulations.”
Lee was joined by Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in writing OMB acting director Russell Vought.
The letter detailed regulations which have been waived to improve COVID-19 response efforts and provide greater flexibility during the pandemic. For example, it cited the suspension of rules which now allow doctors to practice medicine across state lines and provide telehealth services for Medicare patients.
“These measures have helped keep many small businesses afloat but as the country looks to fully re-open, we think it is essential that the federal government do more to provide a roadmap for businesses that is paved without unnecessary roadblocks and burdensome regulations,” the letter states.
The letter stated that although supporters argued that these regulations were reasonable before the pandemic, the suspension of the regulations showed their burden.
“We urge you to sunset all federal regulations that have been waived and continue to be waived during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing the rules to go back through the regulatory process to determine whether these regulations should be temporary or permanent,” the letter stated. “Consistent cost-benefit analysis and retrospective review on all regulations, including those produced by independent agencies, will help to ensure they will not cause undue harm in the future. It is imperative the federal government continues to lessen the burden of unnecessary regulations in a systematic manner moving forward since we do not know where the next crisis may strike.”