Source: HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, 7/27/11
 

This week during The Ag Minute, Chairman Frank Lucas discusses H.R. 2584, the Interior, Environment and Related Appropriations Act of fiscal year 2012. There are provisions in the bill that would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from exceeding its authority and stifling economic growth with unnecessary and costly regulations.

The transcript is below.

"Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are committed to getting our economy back on track.
"Specifically, the Agriculture Committee has been working with other Congressional Committees to expose regulatory actions that threaten the economic viability of production agriculture and rural economies.  

"An example of these efforts is H.R. 2584, which the House is considering this week.    
"This bill contains critical amendments to rein in the aggressive efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand its authority over American agriculture.

"H.R. 2584 blocks the EPA from imposing tighter farm dust standards and from imposing what amounts to a cow tax on livestock producers.  These are unnecessary regulations that could drive agricultural producers out of business.

"Additionally, H.R. 2584 would eliminate a double permitting requirement for pesticide applications that are already regulated.  Without a legislative fix, this requirement threatens the livelihood of every farmer.

"My Republican colleagues and I understand that our economy needs more jobs, not more regulations.  HR. 2584 blocks the EPA from exceeding its authority and stifling economic growth along the way."

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