This opinion piece was written by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, who has represented Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District since 2021. It was shared with Oklahoma Business Voice by Rep. Bice’s office.
For too long, overregulation has had detrimental impacts on our economy. Businesses have been forced to navigate a maze of bureaucratic red tape rather than focusing on what they do best—creating jobs, innovating, and serving their customers. The disastrous policies of the previous administration made it difficult for hardworking Americans and small business owners to thrive. That’s why we are taking action to ensure these burdensome regulations never return.
At the forefront of this effort is my legislation, the Regulation Reduction Act. This bill takes steps to stop the unchecked expansion of federal regulations by requiring executive agencies to repeal three or more existing rules before implementing new ones. The numbers speak for themselves: in 2022, regulatory compliance costs exceeded $3 trillion, with the average U.S. company spending $277,000 annually just to keep up. That’s nearly $13,000 per employee in regulatory costs—money that could be better spent on wages, investments, and innovation.
Additionally, the House has taken decisive action to protect businesses and consumers from costly and unnecessary energy regulations. This week, two resolutions that reverse Biden’s overreaching mandates are being considered by the House.
The first resolution is H.J. Res 24, legislation that I authored to push back against the Department of Energy’s misguided mandates on walk-in coolers and freezers, essential equipment used in pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and many other establishments. The Department of Energy estimated that this rule carries a price tag of a billion dollars, however, real cost will be significantly higher as DOE failed to calculate equipment and operational costs in their estimates. Consequently, the implementation of this rule would have threatened to disrupt supply chains and led to higher prices for consumers at a time when inflation was already stretching American families to their limits.
The second resolution H.J. Res 75, authored by my colleague Rep. Craig Goldman (R-TX), overturns the previous administration’s energy conservation rules for commercial refrigerators and freezers. These regulations imposed hefty compliance costs on businesses of all sizes, driving up prices and restricting consumer choices. From mom-and-pop convenience stores to major food suppliers, businesses across the country rely on affordable and efficient refrigeration systems.
The federal government should be helping, not hindering, economic growth. The previous administration’s overregulation suppressed consumer choice, raised costs, and stifled innovation. Thanks to President Trump and House Republicans, we are fighting back to create a regulatory environment that works for, not against the American people. By passing these critical measures, we are taking meaningful steps to cut red tape, restore economic freedom, and ensure that government policies empower businesses instead of burdening them.
