Congressman  Smith, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) finalized endangerment finding which formally declares greenhouse gas emissions as dangerous pollutants - a move which could have a devastating impact on agriculture producers are available by clicking here .

The announcement will allow the EPA to use the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.  The federal mandate could force producers to make costly changes to reduce emissions - even if Congress does not pass cap-and-trade legislation.  The decision comes as an international climate summit begins meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Smith is a cosponsor of H.R. 391, legislation which would exempt certain gases, including methane, from EPA regulations under the Clean Air Act.  In April, Smith sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) requesting a hearing on environmental burdens on rural American.