Congressman Williams Introduces Legislation to Reduce Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced the Freedom to Compete Act to codify President Trump’s Executive Order titled Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers. 

“Burdensome regulations that reduce competition, limit entrepreneurship, and stifle innovation must be eliminated to revitalize the American economy,” said Congressman Williams. “As Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business and a small business owner for over 52 years, I know firsthand how red tape forces companies to either close their doors or merge with larger competitors. Entrepreneurs without an army of lawyers and large compliance teams simply can’t afford to compete, and Main Street is paying the price. I am proud to introduce this critical legislation to codify President Trump’s Executive Order and level the playing field for America’s job creators.”

Background:

• The Freedom to Compete Act codifies President Trump’s Executive Order titled Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers.
• Requires all agency heads to work with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General to review all regulations in their authority and identify those that:
  • Create, facilitate the creation of, de facto or de jure monopolies.
  • Create unnecessary barriers to entry for new market participants.
  • Limit competition between competing entities or have the effect of limiting competition between entities.
  • Create or facilitate licensure or accreditation requirements that unduly limit competition.
  • Unnecessarily burden the agency’s procurement process, thereby limiting companies to compete for procurements.
  • Otherwise impose anti-competitive restraints or distortions on the operation of the free market.
• Eagle Forum is a supporting organization.

Read the bill text here.

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Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.