It was great to be back in Arkansas last week during the Columbus Day in-state work period where I focused on two issues of importance to the agriculture community—regulatory reform and food security.

In case you missed it, here are the highlights…

On regulatory reform:

“Boozman said he worried that the cost [of the EPA’s mandate] paid by electricity consumers would outweigh any potential gain from the regulations. ‘What does that do to moms? What does that do to people with fixed incomes?’ he said. ‘What does that do to our manufacturers that are trying to compete with people overseas?’” (“EPA rules cast cloud on firms, exec says” (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Oct. 15, 2015) 

“Another speaker at the event, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), echoed Fryar’s concerns, telling AMP ‘overregulation’ had impeded consumers from buying and businesses from hiring. ‘It’s putting a wet blanket on the economy,’” Boozman said. (“Arkansas Farmers Speak Out on ‘Regulation Creep,’” Arkansas Money and Politics, October 15, 2015)

On food security:

“U.S. Senator John Boozman, who is a member of the Senate Agricultural Committee, joined the students. He's been in Fayetteville as part of a discussion on food security at the University of Arkansas. Nutritionists hope if local kids eat locally grown food, it will make for a healthier future.” (“Fayetteville Schools Celebrate Local Harvest,” KNWA, October 13, 2015)

“[U.S. food aid, Boozman said,] ‘is good for the countries involved; it's good for Americans, and good for American farmers and the shippers involved.’” (“Food aid can boost U.S. national security, Farm Journal official says,” Agri-Pulse, Oct. 16, 2015)