Issue Position: Agriculture
Issue Position
Farmers and ranchers have always been an important part of Arizona's heritage and economy. John supports preserving that legacy by cutting burdensome regulations, ending wasteful government subsidies, and letting the free-market work fully and fairly. In particular, John has opposed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) unnecessary regulation of irrigation canals and stock ponds, and will continue to work with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that Arizona's border ports and livestock stations work for--not against--Arizona agriculture and commerce. For example, John recently helped to resume USDA's inspections of cattle in Agua Prieta en route to Arizona and worked with Douglas Mayor Danny Ortega and the USDA Secretary to start the development of new cattle-inspection facilities at border ports in Nogales and Douglas. These new facilities will enable livestock inspections to operate safely and uninterrupted--key to the Arizona ranching industry.
John is also actively investigating whether over-regulation by the federal government has led major banks to close branches along Arizona's southwest border, limiting the financial services available to cash-intensive businesses including ranching and farming. He has recently submitted written testimony to the Financial Institutions Subcommittee in the Arizona State Senate and will do everything he can to ensure that unnecessary regulatory hurdles are not impeding businesses operating along the border communities.
In addition, Senator McCain has been instrumental in reaching a deal finalized by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) and Arizona Game and Fish Commission to begin restoring rainbow trout stocking operations at Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery in Mohave County. He has also introduced the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow authorized hunters who cull bison from inside the Grand Canyon Nation Park to take home the full animal carcass, advancing a common-sense proposal that would cull these unmanageable herds.
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