Values
- Agriculture is an integral part of Southside and Southwest Virginia’s economy and heritage. Virginia’s agriculture industry is by far the largest industry in the Commonwealth, generating $55 billion annually and providing more than 357,000 jobs. It is also the largest industry in the Ninth Congressional District.
- We must preserve and protect the health and vitality of this industry and avoid unnecessary and burdensome regulations that are not based on sound science or have failed to undergo comprehensive economic impact studies.
- Believes in the importance of thorough and accurate information relating to food and reasonable food safety regulations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six Americans gets sick from food-borne illnesses each year. Eating contaminated food causes 5,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
- Believes the tradition of hunting and fishing is a part of Virginia’s rich heritage and the Virginia Constitution. I recognize the need to preserve hunting and fishing as one of the great traditions of this nation. It should be done in a manner that meets the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship.
Actions
- Member of the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus and the Congressional Chicken Caucus.
- Formed a Ninth District Beef Advisory Group in April 2012 with members from local cattlemen’s associations to receive input and advice on issues affecting farmers, the beef industry, and the broader agricultural community.
- Sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, expressing disapproval over the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule on the marketing of livestock and poultry.
- Sent letters to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk regarding India’s denial of American poultry access to Indian markets and expressing concerns with Taiwan’s non-science based restrictions on U.S. beef and pork imports.
- Hosted a Ninth District roundtable on sheep and goat production. At the end of the day, the solutions to some of the complex issues we face can be found locally. In an effort to seek out ways to expand local agriculture sectors, I will continue to engage with folks in the District on the challenges we face in maximizing the value of our resources in an economically efficient and responsible manner.
- Supports the Preserving America's Family Farms Act (H.R. 4157), which would prevent the Department of Labor (DOL) from enacting a proposed rule that would prohibit persons under the age of 18 from working with farm animals without adult supervision, operating certain types of farm machinery, or working in stockyards and grain and feed facilities. I also joined with my House colleagues to write a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to express concern with these regulations and the negative impacts they would have on our family farms. On April 26, 2012, the Obama administration announced they would no longer pursue these harmful rules.
- Supports the Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act of 2011 (H.R. 2541), which would prevent EPA from overreaching and placing an undue burden on the timber harvesting industry. The current regulatory scheme governing the harvest of timber, including runoff from forest roads, has been very successful, and this is a matter that should be left to the states.
- Voted for the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 1633), which prohibits the EPA from proposing, finalizing, implementing or enforcing any regulations on dust from farms, dirt roads, and other activities typically occurring in rural areas.
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