Floor Statement

The Honorable Frank D. Lucas
U.S. House of Representatives

House Floor Statement on H.R. 2454
June 26, 2009

The Waxman-Markey bill promises to destroy our standard of living and quality of life with higher energy costs, higher food prices, and lost jobs. This bill is the single, largest economic threat to our farmers and ranchers in decades. We have more than 115 agriculture and food groups publicly opposing this bill still today.

Do you know why? The greatest threat to our agricultural producers is ignored. Under H.R. 2454, input costs will escalate as a direct result of this energy tax. Meanwhile, the markets for their crops will shrink because foreign competitors, whose governments will not place these burdens on their farmers, will be able to undersell them. But what about the billions of dollars annually that farmers are supposed to garner selling offset credits?

Many farmers will not be able to participate. Soil sequestration of carbon was going to be the way for farmers to generate credits, but if producers started soil tillage practices before 2001, they will be ineligible to participate.

The amendment does not exempt agriculture from performance standards in the bill, which means the EPA could tell our producers how to manage their farms.

This bill will tax you. This bill will destroy the livelihoods of those who live and work in rural America---those who work every day to consistently provide our nation and the world with a safe, affordable, abundant food and fiber supply. Agriculture sits squarely in the crosshairs of this bill because it is energy intensive.

Whether it’s the fuel in the tractor, the fertilizer for the crops, or the delivery of food to the grocery store, agriculture uses a great deal of energy throughout production.

Although USDA hasn’t devoted any time or resources to complete an economic analysis of how this bill will impact our farmers, the Heritage Foundation has.

A recent study from the Heritage Foundation revealed that by 2035, the average net income for farmers will decrease by 57 percent. Also by 2035, gasoline and diesel costs are expected to be 58 percent higher and electric rates 90 percent higher.

For example, residents in Oklahoma can expect their electricity rates to increase by nearly $300 million.

So, why are we doing this bill? So, the U.S. can lead on climate change in the world? We can lead when India and China have refused to participate? We can lead when Europe is doing half of what this bill calls for? We can lead when the rest of the developing world is unable to do anything at all on climate change? Some of my idealistic colleagues will say 'we have to set a standard for the rest of the world,' but I say I will not make my constituents poor --poorer--so others can get richer at their expense.

My friends, this is the wrong bill at the wrong time for the wrong reasons.