Dennis Ross

Mr. ROSS of Florida

Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I again urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 793. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ROSS of Florida

Mr. ROSS of Florida. I thank the chairman for this opportunity. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of House Resolution 72. Now more than ever, regulatory reform is needed. Agencies have expanded their authority to levels far beyond what was ever intended, in circumvention of the legislative process. At a time of record unemployment, the last thing businesses, and in particular, our small businesses, need are burdensome regulations and added compliance costs. Why would we make it harder for our job creators to expand and grow? Shouldn't we create an environment that fosters prosperity, innovation, and global marketplace competitiveness? For example, in my home State of Florida, we have what's known as Numeric Nutrient Water Criteria that is being thrust upon us by EPA, a regulatory law that is supported by nothing but junk science, not accepted principles of science. And yet what it's going to do is cost my citrus industry $325 million in initial compliance costs. It is going to cost my agricultural industry anywhere from $855 million to $3 billion in initial costs, with an annual impact of $1.1 billion to Florida's overall economy and over 14,000 jobs lost. Those jobs, lost in an economy like this. In Florida, water is our livelihood. We can regulate our own control of water. We believe in clean water. But we need to have a voice in what is happening to us with these regulatory controls. Is it fair for an unelected regulatory agency like the EPA to have unchecked rulemaking authority and prevent Florida's job creators from employing hardworking citizens in need of jobs? We are regulating jobs out of existence. Would those who promote more regulatory control not be satisfied until we have choked the last breath out of our American economy and our American job market because of too much regulatory control? Massive oversight is needed, and I applaud congressional efforts to reform the current out-of-control regulatory process. The REINS Act, the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act reforms are necessary. They will provide transparency to a rulemaking process and give businesses, large and small, proper due process in agency decisions that greatly affect them. They are the important first steps that will allow businesses the ability to grow, our citizens to work, and our economy to flourish.

Mr. ROSS of Florida

Mr. ROSS of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to President Reagan on his centennial celebration. As our country 's 40th President, no leader in modern history has had a more lasting and greater impact in shaping America's policy on economics, national defense, and social issues. Throughout his time as a public servant, President Reagan championed the core values of lower taxes and less burdensome government that stimulated the economy and brought this country out of a long recession. Reagan's firm belief in a strong national defense inspired future democracies all over Europe and led to the defeat of the ``evil empire,'' which ended the Cold War and brought peace with Russia. He became a role model for all Americans with his sense of humor, his sense of compassion, untiring belief in unlimited freedom and respect for the unborn. President Reagan was a leader of extraordinary character, courage, and vision. He changed our great nation and never tired of firmly believing that America's best days were ahead. Happy birthday, Mr. President.

Mr. ROSS of Florida

Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of repealing and replacing the recently enacted health care law that nationalizes nearly one-sixth of our country's gross domestic product. This past November, the American people sent a resounding message to Congress and to this administration that they do not want to pay higher taxes for a one-size-fits-all health care system that replaces doctors with bureaucrats. Instead, the American people want complete control of their health care dollars and health care decisions, and they want to be able to take their policies with them from job to job without being penalized by the Federal Government. Americans need privatized health care that forces competition in order to achieve affordability, choice, and innovation. As a small business owner, I understand that adding $104 billion in taxes and compliance costs to our unstable job market creates a massive burden on our taxpayers and is not the best way to encourage economic growth.

Mr. ROSS of Florida. Imposing new regulations on small businesses by mandating employers provide health insurance stifles economic growth and makes it difficult for businesses to survive. We can bring down costs and increase affordability by allowing the free market to create robust competition. One commonsense reform is to allow for the interstate sale of health insurance. By breaking down the barriers to the sale of health insurance, American citizens will have the ability to choose the plan that best fits their needs at a rate that is affordable to them. By allowing competition, we bring costs down and provide the best possible product for the American people.