Press Releases
Lucas Commends Farmers & Ranchers for Pushing Obama Administration to Drop Youth Labor Rule
Washington, DC,
April 27, 2012
Chairman Frank Lucas issued the following statement regarding the announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that the agency is withdrawing a proposed regulation that would have prohibited young people from working on family farms.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chairman Frank Lucas issued the following statement regarding the announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that the agency is withdrawing a proposed regulation that would have prohibited young people from working on family farms. "I am pleased that common sense finally prevailed and the Department of Labor withdrew its burdensome, misguided proposed rule that would have prevented young people from working on farms. This proposed rule created great angst in the countryside about the impact it would have had on the future of the family farm. It was a concern that agricultural producers kept raising during our Farm Bill field hearings. "The Obama administration has proposed numerous rules that affect family farmers and ranchers without fully knowing the impact of their actions. I hope this will serve as a lesson to the administration that they should seek input from the agriculture sector before continuing to move forward with unworkable regulations. "I applaud the efforts of my colleagues, specifically, the leadership of Rep. Rehberg, as well as Reps. Latham and Boren who introduced H.R. 4157, the Preserving America’s Family Farms Act that would have blocked DOL from implementing any regulation that prohibits youth from working on family-owned farms. "I also commend the entire agriculture community, including the thousands of farmers and ranchers, who voiced strong opposition to this rule. This victory is due, in no small part, because the entire agriculture community worked together. It is a reminder of what we can achieve when we are united by a common goal."
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