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Klobuchar, Lugar Introduce Bill to Ensure U.S. Farmers Are Represented in Environmental Decisions

Legislation would allow Secretary of Agriculture to appoint members to Environmental Protection Agency advisory board

September 24, 2010

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure that American farmers are represented in the decision-making process for environmental policies and regulations that could affect U.S. agriculture.  The Representation for Farmers Act would give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to appoint up to three members to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Science Advisory Board, which is charged with providing analysis and recommendations for EPA regulations and other technical matters that often impact the U.S. agriculture industry. Currently, the board consists of 50 members, none of which have an agricultural background.

“Our farmers deserve to be represented in any decisions that affect their ability to continue to grow and produce the highest-quality food in the world,” Klobuchar said. “This bill will give farmers a seat at the table and ensure that common-sense considerations are taken into account for any environmental policies.”

“Regulatory actions taken by the EPA can have significant impacts on farmers of all sizes.  The ability of our nation’s farms to continue to safely produce an abundant food supply is imperative, and I believe this bill will improve the regulatory decision-making process,” Lugar said.

Under the Klobuchar-Lugar bill, the Secretary of Agriculture would have the authority to appoint up to three members to the EPA’s Science Advisory Board, allowing the Board to not only provide sound scientific analysis but also practical analysis of how proposed regulations and standards would be implemented on the ground. Recent regulations issued by the EPA, including guidelines for dust on dirt roads and driveways and a requirement for dairy operations to have the same spill prevention plans that are required of oil operations, have raised concerns among U.S. farm groups about the potential impact on current farming methods and production chains.

At a Senate Agriculture hearing Thursday, Klobuchar discussed the legislation with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and the possibility of working together to advance it.  In her response, Administrator Jackson indicated that she was open to the legislation and requested the opportunity to review the specific provisions.

The legislation has the support of the National Farmers Union, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the National Milk Producers Federation, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Association of Wheat Growers.   

Senators Klobuchar and Lugar are both members of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition Committee.

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