RED TAPE Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/148
Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

ID: E000295

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Hearings held.

November 19, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the esteemed Senator Ernst and her trusty sidekick, Mr. Lankford. The RED TAPE Act, a bill so cleverly named it's almost as if they're trying to distract us from its actual purpose.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's primary objective is to restrict regulatory agencies from considering "non-monetized or unqualified factors" in their decision-making processes. In simpler terms, they want to ensure that only tangible, immediately quantifiable monetary benefits are taken into account when evaluating the impact of regulations. Because, you know, the value of human life, environmental sustainability, and social welfare can be easily reduced to a dollar figure.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends Chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code, by adding a new section (Sec. 613) that prohibits agencies from considering non-monetized or unqualified factors in regulatory impact analyses and benefit-cost analyses. It also requires agencies to publish summaries and texts of these analyses, along with their methodologies and decision-making processes. Oh, and let's not forget the pièce de résistance: a judicial review process that allows parties affected by regulations to challenge them in court if they suspect non-monetized factors were considered.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: regulatory agencies, industries, corporations, and special interest groups. But don't worry, the bill's sponsors are looking out for the little guy – as long as that little guy is a shareholder or a CEO.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a dream come true for corporate lobbyists and a nightmare for anyone who cares about public health, safety, and environmental protection. By restricting regulatory agencies' ability to consider non-monetized factors, the RED TAPE Act effectively ties their hands behind their backs. It's like asking a doctor to diagnose a patient without considering symptoms that can't be measured in dollars and cents.

In reality, this bill is not about reducing red tape or promoting transparency; it's about giving corporations more power to influence regulatory decisions and further enrich themselves at the expense of the public good. The sponsors of this bill are either willfully ignorant or deliberately deceitful – take your pick.

As I always say, "Everyone lies." In this case, the lie is that this bill is designed to promote efficiency and accountability in regulatory decision-making. Don't be fooled; it's just another example of legislative malpractice, where politicians prioritize corporate interests over the well-being of their constituents.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Transportation & Infrastructure National Security & Intelligence Small Business & Entrepreneurship Civil Rights & Liberties State & Local Government Affairs Congressional Rules & Procedures Government Operations & Accountability
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$406,600
29 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$7,700
Committees
$0
Individuals
$398,900

No PAC contributions found

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
2 transactions
$6,700
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
ABEL, ANDREA MS.
1 transaction
$50,000
2
MCINERNEY, THOMAS E. MR.
1 transaction
$50,000
3
NICOLLS, BOB MR.
1 transaction
$25,000
4
GRAY, C. BOYDEN
1 transaction
$25,000
5
CATSIMATIDIS, JOHN A. MR.
1 transaction
$25,000
6
KOTICK, ROBERT MR.
1 transaction
$16,600
7
VINCZE, CHRISTOPHER
1 transaction
$15,800
8
FRANCE, BRIAN Z. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
9
BAKER, BERNARD J. MR. III
1 transaction
$15,000
10
HEGYI, ALBERT P. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
11
DAVISON, JAMES E. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
12
BROIN, JEFF MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
13
SHERRILL, STEPHEN C. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
14
GLEESON, JOHN W. MR.
1 transaction
$12,500
15
RAY-GLEESON, KAREN S. MRS.
1 transaction
$12,500
16
POPOLO, JOE
1 transaction
$11,800
17
PFAUTCH, ROY MR.
1 transaction
$11,600
18
GOLDMAN, MARC STANLEY
1 transaction
$10,000
19
SCHLOEMER, JAMES H. MR.
1 transaction
$10,000
20
SABIN, ANDREW MR.
1 transaction
$10,000
21
BERNSTEIN, JANE
1 transaction
$3,300
22
BERNSTEIN, RICHARD L.
1 transaction
$3,300
23
CHALMERS, DUNCAN
1 transaction
$3,300
24
GIRSKY, LAURIE
1 transaction
$3,300
25
GIRSKY, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

ID: L000575

Top Contributors

10

1
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
Organization OKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Oct 29, 2024
2
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
Organization RICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Aug 4, 2023
3
SAMPLES, RYAN
SAMPLES GROUP MANAGEMENT
Individual OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
$6,600
Aug 30, 2023
4
KAY, ALISON
KIDS CAPITAL HEDGE FUND MANAGER
Individual BEVERLY HILLS, CA
$6,600
Jun 20, 2023
5
KANADY, CHRISTIAN
ECHO INVESTMENT CAPITAL, LLC CEO
Individual NICHOLS HILLS, OK
$6,600
Jun 10, 2024
6
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
RETIRED
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jul 31, 2024
7
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LP MANAGING PARTNER
Individual ASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jul 31, 2024
8
ROWAN, CAROLYN
CAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTION OWNER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
9
ROWAN, MARC J.
APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
10
ARMSTRONG, SINCLAIR WALKER JR.
ARMSTRONG BANK CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Individual VIAN, OK
$6,600
Aug 30, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 34 nodes and 33 connections

Total contributions: $415,200

Top Donors - Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs27 Individuals