U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson has signed his name to two bills so far in his first month as North Carolina’s 8th District Congressman.
This week, Hudson co-sponsored the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act.
The bill, introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Todd Young of Indiana, includes 121 co-sponsors.
In a press release, Hudson said it is “an effort to restore a measure of accountability for federal regulations.”
The REINS Act would require that any regulation with an economic impact of $100 million or more come before Congress for a vote before taking effect. It passed the House overwhelmingly in the 112th Congress but never received a hearing in the Senate.
Hudson also announced last week that he has co-sponsored H.R. 3600, a bill to repeal the 1954 Johnson Amendment.
The Johnson Amendment was inserted in a tax bill by then-Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson to prevent nonprofit organizations from intervening in political campaigns.
Hudson, a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, said the Internal Revenue Service has interpreted the law too broadly. Churches can face the loss of their tax-exempt status if pastors speak from the pulpit about political candidates or issues.
Hudson said in a press release that the new legislation would “restore free speech rights of houses of worship and other non-profit organizations.”