Washington, D.C. –Congressman Rick Berg today completed a two-day “Regulations Tour” to bring awareness to the impact of federal regulations on North Dakota farmers, ranchers and small business owners.

Berg met with local business owners, farmers and ranchers in Bismarck and Fargo to learn how federal regulations had affected their businesses.  As the House continues to work to reduce regulatory burdens on America’s job creators, Berg will use the experiences of North Dakota farmers, ranchers and small business owners to bring to light the impact of federal regulations imposed on the American people.

“Overbearing government regulations are one of the biggest challenges facing our economy,” Berg stated. “From farmers and ranchers to family-run stores, Washington’s one-size-fits-all regulations add unnecessary costs, increase uncertainty, and make it harder for North Dakotans to do business.  I hope that this tour brings awareness to the regulatory challenges facing North Dakotans and makes it clear that to turn our economy around, we have to rein in unnecessary regulations that continue to burden our small businesses and hinder job creation.”

Berg’s two-day tour included meetings with the following farmers, ranchers, and businesses:

·         Art Goldammer, owner of Red Door Homes, Bismarck

·         Dick Hedahl, President and CEO of Hedahl’s Auto Plus, Bismarck

·         Ron Harper, CEO, and Mike Eggl, Senior Vice President, of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bismarck

·         Shannon Gangl, owner and CEO of Best Western Doublewood Inn, Bismarck

·         Steve Koester, a rancher from Steele, ND

·         Kevin Skunes, chairman of North Dakota Corn Council

·         Don Dabbert, owner of Dabbert Custom Homes, Fargo

·         Jeff Johnson, Plant Manager, and Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Steve Tourek, at Marvin Windows and Doors, Fargo

·         President Merle Jegtvig, Vice President Roger Nelson, and Senior Vice President Mike Estenson, of Valley Express Trucking, Fargo

·         Marshal Albright, Vice President of Member and Energy Services for Cass County Electric

·         Dr. Rick Buresh, Superintendent , and Jim Frueh, Director of Maintenance and Operations, for Fargo Public Schools

A member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Berg has worked to limit government regulation on American small businesses by co-sponsoring the REINS Act and the repeal of the 1099 filing mandate. Congressman Berg also serves as a member of the Congressional Job Creators Caucus.

Berg’s Record on Reining in Regulation

H.R.  872, Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act

Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to prohibit the EPA from regulating pesticides as a part of the CWA

Berg co-sponsored, passed House 02/11/11; awaiting action in the Senate

H.R.  910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act

Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Berg co-sponsored, Passed House 04/07/11; awaiting action in the Senate

H.R. 1229, Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act, H.R. 1230, Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act, and H.R. 1231, Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act.

This legislation would lift the President’s ban on new offshore drilling, require the Obama Administration to move forward promptly to conduct offshore lease sales and end the Administration’s de facto moratorium on off shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in a responsible, transparent manner.

Berg supported, passed House 05/11; awaiting action in the Senate

H.R. 2401, Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act

Requires the President to establish the Committee for the Cumulative Analysis of Regulations that Impact Energy and Manufacturing in the United States to analyze and report on the cumulative and incremental impacts of covered rules and actions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning air, waste, water, and climate change.

Berg supported, passed House 09/23/11; awaiting action in the Senate

H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act

Would restore the long-standing relationship between states and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as co-regulators under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Berg supported, passed House 07/13/11; awaiting action in the Senate

H.R. 10, Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act 

Requires that Congress take a recorded vote on every major rule issued by the executive branch before it can be enforced on the American people and small businesses. Specifically, a major rule would be any rule that has an economic effect of at least $100 million on the economy. 

Berg co-sponsored, committee hearing held

H.R. 1391, Recycling Coal Combustion Residuals Accessibility Act

Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to exempt fly ash waste, bottom ash waste, slag waste, and flue gas emission control waste generated primarily from the combustion of coal or other fossil fuels from regulation as hazardous waste under such Act.

Berg co-sponsored, committee hearing held

H.R.  1633, Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act

Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from  proposing, finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any regulation to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter greater than 2.5 micrometers under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for one year.

Berg co-sponsored, expected on House floor Nov. 2011

H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal reporting requirements for payments of $600 or more to corporations. (2) repeal requirements for reporting payments made with respect to rental property not part of a trade or business (3) increase, for taxable years ending after December 31, 2013, the advance applicable dollar amount of the tax credit for health care premium assistance for taxpayers whose household income is less than 400% of the poverty line.

Berg co-sponsored, passed House and Senate, became public law 04/14/11

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