Pearce: Obama Administration's Withdrawal of Proposed Restriction is Welcome News to Farm Families

Statement

Today, Congressman Steve Pearce issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor's decision to withdraw their restriction on youth work in agricultural operations. This withdrawal by the Administration is a result of strong pushback from rural and agricultural families.

"The withdrawal of this oppressive regulation is welcome news to farm families in New Mexico--and across the nation," said Pearce. "By attempting to regulate youth labor in agricultural industries, the Obama Administration was undermining family farms in the United States and showing their clear distaste for rural America. Instead of rewarding hardworking farmers and ranchers for putting food on tables across America, President Obama has attempted to penalize them for passing on traits of hard work and responsibility. Across the state of New Mexico, thousands of agricultural operations are run by families. Farmers and ranchers depend on sons, daughters and other family members to work, and youth working in agriculture are taught the family business so that they can carry on and achieve their own American Dream. I fully support the right for family farms to continue operations without the overreach from Washington."

Congressman Pearce has been a strong opponent against this restriction by cosponsoring H.R. 4157, the Preserving America's Family Farms Act. He also wrote to Secretary Solis of the Department of Labor, in opposition to the proposed regulation. His offices have heard concerns opposing this proposal from constituents throughout New Mexico's Second Congressional District.

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