Regulatory Action Center Review – August 12, 2020

Welcome to the new and improved Regulatory Action Center (RAC) Review! RAC proudly keeps you up to date on what we’re up to and what we’re keeping our eyes on here in the swamp. We offer resources for you to get involved in the rulemaking process to hold unelected bureaucrats accountable and occasionally offer praise in the event they have a good impulse. We will also highlight the incredible work our activists have done to advance the principles of smaller government, lower taxes, free markets, personal liberty, and the rule of law. For more ways to get involved and stay informed, check the links at the bottom of this post.

RACtivists by the Numbers

Between both the July 2017 and April 2020 comment periods, FreedomWorks’ RACtivists submitted 31,679 comments to the FCC in support of repealing the left’s “net neutrality” regulations and keeping them repealed.

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RACtivist Content of the Week

The Regulatory Action Center submitted comments to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in support of deregulating pipelines in the United States.

You can read that comment HERE.

Four Things to Know

1) FCC Delivers Wins at August Open Meeting

The sky is blue, grass is green, it’s a day that ends in ‘y,’ and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai is the subject of disingenuous attacks from the left. This time, they come regarding the substance of the FCC’s August open meeting. The Commission tackled a couple of issues: reduction of prison telephone rates and the liberation of more spectrum for developing 5G.

More resources on this meeting:

FreedomWorks statement in support of liberating C-band spectrum: HERE

Digital Liberty piece on C-band spectrum: HERE

Digital Liberty piece on prison phone rates: HERE

2) Administration Issues ‘Buy American’ Executive Order

The Trump administration issued an executive order that mandates agencies buy only American pharmaceutical ingredients and other medical products. This order threatens to disrupt the pharmaceutical supply chain to the U.S. and hamper our pandemic response capabilities now and in the future. It will also significantly raise the cost of developing new cures.

More resources on this order:

Op-ed by FreedomWorks VP of Leg. Affairs, Jason Pye: HERE

The Executive Order: HERE

FreedomWorks Statement of opposition: HERE

3) Biggs Asks CMS to Make Regulatory Relief Permanent

House Freedom Caucus Chairman, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) has sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma asking her to provide relief to anesthetists. Namely, allowing certified registered nurse anesthetists to provide care without physician supervision, thereby making permanent the regulatory relief granted early in the pandemic.

More resources on this:

Rep. Biggs’ letter: HERE

4) Juul Files Application with FDA to Sell E-Cigs in the US

Juul Labs, Inc. filed an application with the FDA two weeks ago to sell its e-cigarettes in the U.S. It also included its Virginia tobacco and menthol-flavored pods with 3% and 5% nicotine concentrations. This could be a milestone for harm reduction in the tobacco sphere and a victory for all Americans who want to quit smoking should this application be approved.

More resources on this application:

FreedomWorks Statement on a similar product receiving approval last month: HERE

FreedomWorks Blog Post opposing the “quit-or-die” approach to smoking: HERE

FreedomWorks Issue Brief on harm reduction: HERE

RAC Resources

You can always find all RAC content (blogs, updates, press releases, and comment campaigns) HERE.

You can always sign up to become an elite RACtivist, if you haven’t already, HERE.

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