Source:  HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, 7/5/11

This week during The Ag Minute, guest host Rep. Rick Crawford discusses why burdensome government regulations hurt farmers, ranchers, and the economy.  In particular, regulation of dust under the Clean Air Act could cripple farms and ranches across the country.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to make a determination this summer on particle pollution standards, including dust.  It is time for the Obama Administration to stop creating more regulations and start creating jobs.   
 

The transcript is below.

"While millions of unemployed Americans are looking for job opportunities, bureaucrats in Washington are focused not on creating more jobs—but more regulations. The way to get Americans back to work is obvious: Get government out of the way.

"No one knows better than farmers and ranchers that job creation has become increasingly difficult due to burdensome regulations.  And the threat of more burdensome regulations, especially from the Environmental Protection Agency, seems to grow every day.  For example, the EPA is considering tightening regulations on farm dust under the Clean Air Act.

"As any farmer can tell you, you can’t grow food in the dirt without kicking up a little dust.  Any farmer can also tell you that no one is a better steward of the environment than farmers because they derive their livelihoods from the land.   

"Unfortunately, a tighter dust standard would drain resources that farmers could use to expand their operations by purchasing new equipment and hiring new employees.  

"With EPA bureaucrats proposing absurd regulations without considering the economic consequences, it’s no wonder the unemployment rate is holding steady at nearly 10 percent."

The Ag Minute is Chairman Lucas's weekly radio address that is released from the House Agriculture Committee.