Navigating Complex Federal Regulatory System Remains Barrier to Small Business and Manufacturing Growth

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TO BUSINESS, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:

NAM and NFIB Call For Action to Modernize Regulatory Process

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National

Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the National Federation of

Independent Business (NFIB) are joining forces to urge for

long-overdue reforms to the overly complex and inefficient federal

regulatory process. The partnership was announced during a panel event

on federal regulations this morning. During the course of the upcoming

year, the two organizations will utilize the full weight of their

grassroots networks in an effort to engage with Congress and the

Administration on the need for regulatory improvements.

Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the NAM, said, "This is a strong and

necessary partnership because manufacturers and small businesses face

a disproportionate burden of all regulatory costs. While manufacturers

recognize the need for regulation, the scope and complexity of rules

have made it harder to do business and compete in recent years. This

is a trend that simply cannot continue and is easily solved with

several common-sense fixes. We can achieve a streamlined regulatory

process with increased accountability and transparency that will

protect businesses, manufacturers and the consumers."

NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner added, "Poll after poll indicates

most Americans feel Washington is doing too much, too fast on

regulations. Time and time again, we hear from our members about the

complex regulatory climate and how, with a little more transparency

and openness, the regulations would be more effective and work more

efficiently for everyone. This is a bipartisan issue that Congress can

rally behind and move quickly to address."

This morning's event, which included opening remarks by House Majority

Whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), fell during the House of

Representative's week-long focus on regulations. Panelists included

former Virginia Gov. George Allen; former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln

(D-AR); Susan Dudley, the Director of the George Washington University

Regulatory Studies Center and the former administrator of the Office

of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA); Robert Weissman,

president of Public Citizen; and Philip Howard, author of The Death of

Common Sense.

Navigating federal regulations continues to be one of the top problems

facing small business owners and manufacturers. The regulatory

process leaves businesses mired in uncertainty and spending precious

time and money trying to navigate applicable regulatory requirements.

This results in fewer resources being invested in hiring new employees

or growing their business. In 2013 alone, business owners and

manufacturers spent more than 67 million hours filling out paperwork

at a cost to the economy of approximately $112 billion. And according

to a study by the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and

Innovation (MAPI), compliance costs for manufacturers have increased

an average of 7.6 percent per year since 1998, while manufacturing

output has grown at an anemic 0.4 percent.

The NAM and NFIB intend to talk about how small businesses and

manufacturers need regulations that are thoughtfully crafted,

analyzed, implemented, and enforced to protect the public, workers and

the environment as intended. Too often today, rules are drafted

without input from the sectors responsible for implementing them and

without a review of the compounded impacts with other regulations.

More federal regulations are not always needed, and priority should be

placed on reviewing and enforcing those already on the book.

SOURCE National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); National

Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

-0- 02/26/2014

/CONTACT: Jamie Hennigan (NAM): (202) 637-3090; Eric Reller (NFIB): 202-314-2073

CO: National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

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