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Source: U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, 3/7/13
This week during The Ag Minute, Chairman Frank Lucas discusses H.R. 935, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013, which a group of bipartisan members of Congress introduced this week. The bill would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to clarify Congressional intent and eliminate the requirement of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the use of pesticides already approved under FIFRA. Without Congressional action, pesticide users are required to obtain the extra permit or be subject to a costly fine.
The transcript is below.
"This week several of my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee introduced a necessary piece of legislation to eliminate the costly impact of a misguided court decision on America’s farmers. H.R. 935, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013, ends an extra permit requirement for the application of pesticides that are already federally regulated.
"The unfortunate part is this bill should already be enacted. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in the last Congress as H.R. 872. It also advanced out of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. But the full Democratic Senate failed to consider it and when that session of Congress ended, H.R. 872 expired.
"I’m pleased my colleagues are renewing this important effort during this Congress. Regulations are meant to keep a check on businesses and protect the American consumer and environment. But when those regulations - or in this case regulatory mandates - provide no additional health or environmental benefits then they’re just detrimental to those we rely on for job creation and economic growth. We can’t afford that with today’s fragile economic conditions.
"I am hopeful we can push this bill through to the President’s desk during this Congress. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both chambers of Congress to help get it done. America’s farmers and ranchers are counting on it."
The Ag Minute is Chairman Lucas's weekly radio address that is released from the House Agriculture Committee.
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