The SCRUB Act: Undermining Public Health and Safety

Background (from Indivisible Guide):
The Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act is yet another attempt by some Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration to undermine the regulatory agencies responsible for protecting the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe, among countless other potential threats to the public health and safety.

The SCRUB Act (H.R. 998) creates the unelected Retrospective Regulatory Review Commission, which is tasked with reducing the cumulative cost of regulation by 15 percent, while only “minimally reducing the overall effectiveness of such regulation.” The Commission would be empowered to recommend repealing any regulation, which would then trigger a vote in Congress. The criteria used to assess if a regulation is outdated or stifling is dangerously broad and is highly susceptible to lobbying by big business. The SCRUB Act also includes a provision that would require agencies to offset the cost of any new rule by eliminating regulations already in place. The bill has passed the House and will be voted on in the Senate soon.

SAMPLE CALL DIALOGUE

OPPOSES THE SCRUB ACT

• Staffer: Thank you for calling! [Senator] opposes the SCRUB Act.Caller: That’s great to hear. The SCRUB Act limits the ability of agencies to do their job and opens the door to meddling by big business. I worry that President Trump and key members of Congress are trying to dismantle vital protections for our workforce, our environment, and our health. Please thank the Senator for opposing the SCRUB Act and tell him to continue to oppose efforts that undermine our public health and safety.