Hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee - Rural Development and Energy

Statement

Concerned with numerous new federal regulations impacting rural Americans, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, today made the following remarks at a hearing on Rural Development and Energy:

"Before I ask my question of the Under Secretary [Dallas Tonsager, U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary of Rural Development] I'll spend a moment painting a picture of the challenges many Kansas communities face today.

"Of Kansas' 627 cities, only a half dozen enjoy a population of 50,000 or more residents and less than 20 reach the 20,000 mark. Meaning over 600 Kansas cities and towns meet some definition of "rural" in regards to federal programs.

"I appreciate the Under Secretary's testimony. As he points out rural Americans are struggling. While urban areas fret over opportunities for growth, rural communities desperately seek relief from out-migration and the loss of businesses.

"I also appreciate the Under Secretary's comments about rural communities working together. Your testimony states that a "holistic multi-community and multi-county' approach will help address these challenges.

"I would go further and say that "multi-agency' coordination is critical to the preservation our rural communities.

"Mr. Under Secretary, over the course of the last year, I've noticed that each community, grower organization and rural business that I visit with brings forward the same concern...over reaching and over burdensome government regulations.

"Your testimony points out that "95 percent of rural income is earned off the farm.' Yet recently proposed government actions threaten the viability of off farm opportunities. Let me name a few: Non-science based standards over particulate matter or what some call "rural fugitive dust," spray drift, Atrazine, the Environmental Protection Agency's potential carbon rule, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, the definition of "navigable waters,' levee certifications and I could go on and on.

"Mr. Under Secretary, your agency is charged with "helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.' With so many rural communities concerned that your sister agencies' actions result in the direct opposite of your goal, how does the Rural Development Agency work in a "multi-agency' fashion to address these concerns?

"What coordination protocols are in place between your agency and others so our rural communities do not suffer from unintended consequences?"

Source