John Boehner 8TH DISCTRICT OF OHIO

Today, the House will vote on the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act (H.R. 1633), legislation introduced by Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Robert Hurt (R-VA) that will eliminate the threat of excessive new Washington regulations that could hurt American farmers, ranchers, and small businesses, and cause “significant job losses.”  In The Ag Minute this week, Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) underscored the need to pass H.R. 1633 to give “farmers and ranchers the certainty they need to invest in the future without worrying about oppressive regulations.”  That view is shared by several small business and agricultural organizations that are urging Congress to protect jobs by passing the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act:

• The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) – the nation’s largest small business advocacy group - says the ability of rural small businesses “to survive and stay viable would be further threatened” by overly-stringent regulations, adding that “in these difficult economic times, members of the small business community in rural areas need relief from onerous regulation, not additional costs and mandates. H.R. 1633 would provide this certainty.” (National Federation of Independent Business) 

• The Agriculture Coalition, a group of 126 state and national farmers organizations, urged support for H.R. 1633 to “bring some much needed certainty to agriculture and other rural resource-based industries,” and keep jobs in rural America. (The Agriculture Coalition)

• The American Farm Bureau Federation says farm dust regulations would “result in decreased productivity, increased food prices, and lost jobs in the rural economy.” (American Farm Bureau Federation)

• According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “the economic consequences of [excessive farm dust regulations] can be severe and include higher costs to industry, permitting delays, restrictions on expansion, and an inability to attract new business.” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Earlier this year, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) identified the prospect of overly-stringent farm dust rules as one of the top 10 job-killing regulations facing American job creators.  With the Plan for America’s Job Creators, the Republican-led House has been focused on removing obstacles to private-sector job creation, including the threat of more onerous government regulations coming down the pike.  Upon passage, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act will join more than 25 other bipartisan, House-passed jobs bills that are languishing in the Senate because Democrats in that chamber refuse to act.  The Democrats who run Washington have already broken their promise to keep unemployment below eight percent with the failed ‘stimulus.’  It’s time for them to work with Republicans to find common ground on legislation that will put Americans back to work, starting with the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act and the more than 25 other bipartisan, House-passed jobs bills.  Follow the progress ofH.R. 1633 and other jobs bills awaiting Senate action at jobs.GOP.gov.