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Agriculture
The number one industry in Central Illinois is agriculture. In fact, the state’s nearly 76,000 farms pour more than $6.4 billion into the Illinois economy, making it one of the largest industries in the state. As such, we cannot improve Illinois by leaving agriculture behind.
Aaron visits with farmers in his district |
One of the top issues that I hear about when I meet with farmers is over-regulation from federal bureaucracies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bureaucrats in Washington, who have never set foot on a farm, should not be making it more difficult for farmers to do their job. I have actively fought against this since I arrived in Congress and I will continue to do so. For instance, I offered an amendment to HR 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act. My amendment, which passed the House by voice vote, would require the EPA to take agriculture jobs and economic impact on the agriculture community into account before issuing new regulations. I co-sponsored and supported HR 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, which would ensure that the EPA doesn’t regulate pesticides under the Clean Water Act. This would be a duplicative regulation, as pesticides are already regulated by the EPA under another law. Additionally, I was glad to co-sponsor the HR 10, the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. This bill, which passed the House, would require congressional approval for any federal regulation with an economic impact of $100 million or more. Regulations coming out of Washington are out of control, and according to the Small Business Administration, federal regulations cost our economy $1.75 trillion per year.
Aaron on the House floor advocating for the passage
of his amendment to the Farm Dust Regulation Preventive Act.
Click the image to watch his floor remarks. |
I have long been a proponent of completely repealing the Death Tax. This is why, during the 111th Congress I was a co-sponsor of H.R. 3464, The Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act. This legislation would have completely done away with Death Tax as of 2010. Not only does this tax provide for double taxation of already owned assets, but it brings less than 1% into the U.S. Treasury. Families often pay more in trying to avoid the Death Tax, than what the government actually collects.
To truly minimize the impact that the Death Tax has on family farmers, I became a co-sponsor in the 111th Congress of H.R. 3524, the Family Farm Preservation and Conservation Estate Tax Act, which would have allowed farmers and ranchers to waive payment of estate taxes as long as land stays within the family and remains in agricultural production or is placed into a conservation easement.
I am happy to report that Free Trade Agreements with Panama, South Korea, and Colombia were finally signed into law so that Illinois farmers can compete in the global arena. As a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, I led several hearings on the importance of these three trade agreements. Peoria, Illinois is the 20th largest export market in the United States, and has seen a recent strong growth in exports. Over the last five years, Colombia has been the largest market for U.S. agriculture exports in South America, and the third largest market in the Western Hemisphere behind only Canada and Mexico, with U.S. exports totaling $4.3 billion. In 2009, U.S. agriculture exports to Colombia declined by 48%. It was the failure of the United States to implement the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement that was primary cause of the sharp decline in agriculture exports as Colombia enacted agreements with their South American neighbors as well as Canada and the European Union. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the full implementation of a U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement will result in a $700 billion increase in U.S. agriculture exports. The Farm Bureau estimates that corn and soybeans, both of which grow abundantly in the State of Illinois, will see some of the largest increases in exports.
Aaron visits with two farmers from his district who were in town
advocating for the pro-growth free trade agreement with Colombia |
A U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement will allow more than half of current U.S. farm exports to Panama to become duty-free immediately, which would give U.S. farmers an advantage over competitors in the E.U. and Canada. The American Farm Bureau estimates that the increase in farm exports to Panama will exceed $195 million per year, nearly doubling U.S. exports. A U.S-Korea Free Trade Agreement will also allow for great agriculture export growth as well, with vegetable exports expected to increase between 53%-87%, processed food product exports expected to increase between 37%-42%, and vegetable oils expected to in increase between 20%-33%. The bottom line is that all indicators show that these Free Trade Agreements mean good news for Illinois farmers.
Additionally, ensuring that the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers have an updated lock and dam system is vital to making sure Illinois farmers can get their product to the global marketplace. Since I have arrived in Congress, I have made clear that this is a priority, and I will continue to fight for ensuring that our locks and dams are safe and fully functional. In the 112th Congress, I spearheaded a bi-partisan letter to the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding the importance of the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). This program works to improve locks and dams along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.
Aaron discussing the levee system around Beardstown |
During this Congress, I have been a strong advocate for a long-term and fully paid for transportation bill. Our transportation infrastructure is in dire need of improvement. Deficiencies in our transportation network increase transportation costs, which in turn drive up the cost of farmer’s products, and them less attractive on the world market. I lead conversations with the House Speaker and Transportation Committee Chairman, and urged them to link new oil and gas leasing revenue with funding for a long-term Highway Bill. This would not only be good for America’s energy security, but it would mean that we can fund important transportation projects without adding to our national debt. Additionally, I authored a letter to President Obama, co-signed by 110 other Members of Congress, and asked for his support of a long-term Highway Bill.
I was proud to support the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations Act, which provided needed funding to programs that our important to our nation’s farmers. For instance, this bill included support for the Farm Services Agency, which administers the USDA’s farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and loan programs. It also included support for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is dedicated to reinvigorating our nation’s investment in agricultural research, extension, and education.
I am supporter of the Renewable Fuels Standard II, which will help grow our domestic supply of fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. The more American grown energy that we can produce, the better. This is not only good for Illinois farmers, but it is good for consumers, the environment, and our nation’s energy security. This means renewable fuels will be required to be blended into 36 billion gallons of transportation fuel by 2022.
During this Congress, I introduced bi-partisan biodiesel legislation, HR 2238, which would extend the current biodiesel tax credit for 3 years. Biodiesel is a by-product of soybean oil that can easily be turned into a sustainable domestic energy source. As the economy continues to struggle, the extension of this important provision is seen as a positive development to assist the agriculture community. In 2004, when the incentive was initially enacted, the U.S. produced 25 million gallons. In 2009, that number rose to 545 million gallons. In 2009, the U.S. biodiesel industry supported 23,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy. This added $4.1 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generated $828 million in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments, according to National Biodiesel Board. Roughly 11 billion gallons of biofuels were produced and sold in the United States in 2009, according to the CBO.
It is also important that our country not only produces more American energy, but we must also have the infrastructure in place to distribute it. I am an advocate for finding ways to put more ethanol flex/blender in pumps in place at gas stations so that consumers have a real choice when they pull up at the pump.
Aaron Receives 2012 Friend of Ag Award
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My work on biofuels has not gone unnoticed. I was proud to be recognized with the 2011 Fueling Growth Award Winner, the highest honor presented to Members who support ethanol. I was also selected as 1 of the 10 Most Important Advocates for Renewable Energy in Washington by BioFuels Digest.
I will closely be monitoring the 2012 Farm Bill as it works its way through Congress as well, and look forward to making sure Illinois farmers are represented in Washington. We must ensure we are providing a viable safety net to see farmers through the rough times. This safety net must recognize the risks and rewards unique to agriculture and preserves a farmer’s ability to respond to changes in commodity markets.
We must also work to grow current agricultural markets and work to gain access to new markets. To accomplish this goal, I support university-based and USDA-based agricultural research. Everyday researchers are making discoveries that bring new uses for our agricultural commodities, improve farmer’s bottom lines and decrease the costs of the products we buy.
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