Huelskamp Calls for New Farm Bill Title to Address Overregulation

Press Release

Congressman Tim Huelskamp, a fifth-generation farmer, announced this morning that he will introduce legislation to add a Regulatory Title to the "Farm Bill." The Freeing Agriculture to Reap More (FARM) Act will prevent and prohibit job-killing overregulation of agriculture.

"We need to free up America's farmers and ranchers so they can do their jobs," Congressman Huelskamp said. "The economic impact of overregulation is so devastating that Congress must target it in the next Farm Bill. Overregulation negatively impacts all agriculture, so it is time Congress address the costs bureaucrats impose through excessive rules, red tape, and requirements."

"At the 70 in-person town hall meetings I have hosted across the First District of Kansas -- one of the largest agriculture districts in the country -- time and again I have heard the same concern from farmers: Washington will be the death of them. They are not looking for more handouts from Washington, but rather need Washington to let them operate in the safe and responsible, yet productive, ways they have done for generations. The FARM Act allows our family farms to continue the family tradition without fear of expensive and unnecessary overregulation."

The FARM Act will perform the following functions:

* Prohibit regulation of emissions of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
* Clarify and expand current exemptions for farmers from federal commercial drivers license requirements.
* Prohibit regulation of farm dust.
* Permit the continued operation of sweep augers in grain bins.
* Allow farmers to haul adequate diesel fuel to the field to complete the job for the day
* Prohibit the EPA from redefining the terms "navigable waters" and "waters of the United States" so as to impose additional regulations on water.
* Prohibit the creation of a livestock emissions tax.
* Increase the threshold for inspection and reporting requirements for animal dealers
* Prohibit funding for the White House Rural Council.
* Delay derivatives regulations of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act until a cumulative analysis can be performed.
* Amend regulations on farm transport that affect transportation of commodities and supplies by and for agricultural purposes.
* Prohibit the Department of Labor from imposing proposed burdensome regulations relating to youth farm employment.

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