Source:  House Committee on Agriculture, 3/10/11

Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing to review the impact of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on agriculture. Members of the committee heard testimony from EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and questioned her on the aggressive regulatory agenda the agency is pursuing at the expense of the livelihoods of America's farmers and ranchers.

"I appreciate the time and participation of Administrator Jackson in today's hearing. The EPA has pursued an agenda that is at odds with Congressional intent, defies common sense, and lacks any kind of understanding or consideration for the economic impact it has on the livelihoods of those who feed us. Today’s hearing will be one of many on this issue because farming is hard enough as it is without a government agency piling on additional burdens with irrational, overreaching, and costly regulations," said Chairman Frank Lucas.

"More and more we are seeing important policy decisions that impact agriculture arise not from the legislative process, but from a litigation process where court decisions or secret lawsuit settlement negotiations result in poor policy decisions. If we don’t work together to find a solution, producers will likely continue being told how to operate by bureaucrats, lawyers and judges who don’t understand agriculture. This is not the way to make agriculture policy," said Ranking Member Collin Peterson.

Written testimony provided by the witness is linked below.
Witness List:
Panel I
The Honorable, Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.