Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rick Berg today joined the House in taking steps to relieve regulatory uncertainty facing America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses.  A part of Berg’s REGS Agenda, which was formally launched yesterday, the House passed the “Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011” by a bipartisan vote of 268-150.

“This bill is a common sense solution that will provide relief from the regulatory uncertainty facing North Dakota’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” Berg stated. “The Obama administration’s regulatory overreach continues to burden North Dakotans with new costs and more red tape, and the relentless threat of new, senseless regulations prevents North Dakota farmers, ranchers and small businesses from making long-term business decisions.  The Farm Dust Regulation Prevent Act will give our ag producers and rural business owners certainty that the Obama administration will not overstep and impose out-of-touch regulations on farm dust.”

A part of Berg’s REGS Agenda, the “Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011” will provide regulatory certainty in the short term and regulatory common sense for rural America in the long term by offering important protections for farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses. The bill empowers states and local areas to manage “nuisance dust,” which consists primarily of soil or natural materials and is generated primarily from natural sources, unpaved roads, agricultural activities, earth moving, or other activities typically conducted in rural areas.

Berg’s REGS Agenda is a path forward to reduce regulatory red tape, empower states, growth the economy, and stop President Obama’s regulatory overreach.  The product of Berg’s conversations with North Dakotans this past year about the impact of senseless regulations, the REGS Agenda will work to:

•    Rein in overbearing regulations that stand as road blocks to economic growth and job creation;
•    Reduce the regulatory uncertainty hanging over America’s small businesses;
•    Empower states by returning to them the power to enact commonsense regulations that best fit their unique needs;
•    And promote job creation and business growth by providing America’s job creators with relief from out-of-touch regulation.

As a part of the REGS Agenda, Berg will continue to push forward legislation that will lift regulatory burdens that hinder America’s families and job creators.  More information about Berg’s REGS Agenda may be found here.

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