Agricultural News
Congressman Frank Lucas calls on US House to Vote for H.R. 872
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 6:48:39 CDT
Here is the text of a letter sent by Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and others on the House Ag Committee to all members of the US House- asking for their support for H. R. 872.
From: The Committee on Agriculture
Bill: H.R. 872
Date: 3/29/2011
Dear Colleague:
This week the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011.
The bill eliminates a costly and duplicative permitting requirement for the application of pesticides. The requirement is the result of a misguided court decision in National Cotton Council v. EPA by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. This permit requirement is an economic burden to all from the federal government to state agencies, from farmers to foresters, from public health agencies to every day citizens.
H.R. 872 makes clear that it was never the intent of Congress to require this redundant layer of bureaucracy. Especially since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) already comprehensively regulates the distribution, sale and use of pesticides.
Time is of the essence for Congress to act and the clock is ticking. Although the court extended the effective date of its order to October 31, it did not fix the underlying problem. The impact on all pesticides users required to obtain this extra permit will be the same in October as it is today. There is no difference in the burden, cost, or real impact on their livelihoods. The only thing this extension provides is six more months of regulatory uncertainty.
Additionally, it only delays a pending disaster for state budgets because state agencies are ill-equipped with the resources to comply with the requirement. There is no need to send our states down a path of fiscal disaster when we have the opportunity to put a stop to it today. This exercise represents a tremendous waste of valuable time and resources.
Congress has the opportunity to fix this problem now. We urge all Members to support H.R. 872.
/s /s
Frank D. Lucas, Chairman Collin C. Peterson, Ranking Member
House Agriculture Committee House Agriculture Committee
/s /s
Jean Schmidt, Chairman Joe Baca, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Nutrition Subcommittee on Nutrition
and Horticulture and Horticulture
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