NAHMA Rural Housing Update: USDA requesting comments on Regulatory Reform Initiatives

July 27, 2017

USDA recently requested public input on regulatory reform initiatives for the agency, as directed by the President’s February, 2017 Executive Order establishing a federal policy to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens. The attached request states that “USDA is committed to creating a culture of consistent, efficient service to our customers while easing regulatory burdens to make it easier to invest, produce, and build in rural America in a way that creates jobs and economic prosperity…”

Specifically, the Department of Agriculture is requesting input from stakeholders on modifying, streamlining, expanding or repealing regulations, guidance documents or other policy documents, and will review comments in four batches throughout the next year. Please submit your first-batch comments to us by Friday, September 8th.

Commenters are asked to consider the following questions:

1.       Are there any regulations that should be repealed, replaced, or modified?

2.       For each regulation identified in question number 1, please identify whether the regulation:

(a)    Results in the elimination of jobs, or inhibits job creation;

(b)   Is outdated, unnecessary, or ineffective;

(c)    Imposes costs that exceed benefits;

(d)   Creates a serious inconsistency or otherwise interferes with regulatory reform initiatives and policies;

(e)   Is inconsistent with the requirements or regulations of section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note), which requires that agencies maximize the quality, objectivity, and integrity of the information (including statistical information) they disseminate; or

(f)     Derives from or implements Executive Orders or other Presidential directives that have been subsequently rescinded or substantially modified.

3.       Are there any existing USDA requirements that duplicate or conflict with requirements of another Federal agency? Can the requirement be modified to eliminate the conflict?

4.       What are the estimated total compliance costs of the USDA regulations to which you or your organization must comply? This should include the costs of complying with information collections, recordkeeping, and other requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.

USDA will keep the public apprised of the status of its review and any plans to repeal, replace, or modify existing regulations. The Department will issue a detailed update as part of the 2017 fall regulatory agenda and statement of regulatory priorities. To view the request for comment online, please click here.

Again, please submit your first-batch comments to us by Friday, September 8th. Thanks to those who had previously submitted regulatory streamlining input, and we look forward to hearing your comments for USDA’s request.