This was a vote on a resolution setting a time limit for debate and prohibiting amendments to legislation instructing congressional committees (such as the Education and the Workforce Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, etc.) to review existing, pending, and proposed regulations from federal agencies and identify which of those regulations may have been hindering economic growth and job creation.

Rep Pete Sessions (R-TX) urged support for the resolution and the underlying legislation: “Regulatory burdens are hindering job growth. Regulatory burdens are hindering investment and innovation while eroding some of the most basic and fundamental freedoms in America. Congress and this administration must work together to do more than prevent harmful new regulations. They must also review, study, and eliminate unnecessary rules that are already on the books.”

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) criticized the resolution: “While we won't object to Republicans wanting to debate the efficiency of federal regulations, we do object to spending 9 1/2 hours debating what everyone has already agreed to. House committees are already required to conduct oversight. They already examine federal regulations. And they already promulgate legislation making changes to federal law. Wasting this body's time debating this matter only serves to underscore that Republicans still have no plan for improving the economy and no interest, it does appear, in prioritizing legislation that will create jobs and best serve the American people.”

The House agreed to this resolution by a vote of 255-169. Voting “yea” were 237 Republicans and 18 Democrats. 169 Democrats voted “nay.” As a result, the House proceeded to formal floor debate on legislation instructing congressional committees to review existing, pending, and proposed regulations from federal agencies and identify which of those regulations may have been hindering economic growth and job creation.