Aaron Schock

Washington, May 1, 2012 - As a member of the agriculture community, I was pleased to hear the news about the recent withdrawal of a Department of Labor (DOL) regulation that would have prevented children from working on family farms. I have been a vocal critic of this ill-advised regulation from the beginning.
 
As you may know, the proposed regulation from the Department of Labor would have made it more difficult for farmers to hire youth to work in agriculture. The proposed regulations would affect youth workers in a variety of sectors within agriculture, including livestock and grain production, commodity transport, and youth agricultural education. For generations, family farms have passed on knowledge about agriculture through youth participation in the day to day operation of the farm. Training the next generation of farmers is necessary to ensuring a stable food supply for our nation, as well as the smooth operation of family farms. 
 
Through listening to family farmers across Illinois, I heard time and again that this regulation was detrimental to the continuation of a strong agricultural tradition in America, and I shared in the concerns of this community. For that reason, I coauthored a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis requesting that the comment period on the proposed regulation be extended so that all interested parties would have a chance to weigh in on the issue. Most of the original comment period was scheduled to occur right in the middle of harvest season for many farmers. As a result of this letter, the deadline was extended for 30 days, until December 1, 2011 to allow stakeholders adequate time to make their concerns heard. 
 
Subsequently, I coauthored another letter to Secretary Solis expressing my opposition to the proposed regulations. The agriculture industry has made significant gains in the safety of its younger workers over the last several decades, and it is unnecessary and unacceptable to place these new regulations on farmers. 

I also signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 4157, the Preserving America’s Family Farms Act, which would have prohibited the Department of Labor from enacting the rule. 

In response to these efforts and because of the strong opposition from the farm community around the country, the Department of Labor has formally withdrawn this regulation and made it clear that it will not pursue such policies in the future. Withdrawal of this regulation ensures that the great American agricultural tradition and heritage will continue to thrive in Central Illinois and in all parts of this great country.

Preventing this particular regulation was a great success for family farms, and I will continue to work against any other regulations that put unnecessary burdens on farmers.