Ag Committee Action


On Tuesday, March, 17, the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Glenn Thompson, held a public hearing to review the definition of EPA’s “waters of the United States” proposed rule and its impact on rural America. Enacted in 1972, the Clean Water Act (CWA) established federal-state government partnership to better regulate and manage the nation’s waters through a range of pollution and control programs. The proposed rule would be an expansion of jurisdictional waters. Committee members asserted that the Administration has acted on its own, without input from the states and stakeholders, to broaden the scope of the CWA, threatening the livelihood of farmers, ranchers and rural America. The committee heard from two panels, nine witnesses all sharing different perspectives of rural America and the impact WOTUS would have if implemented.

On Wednesday, March, 18, the House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing to review the importance of trade to U.S. agriculture. In 2014, U.S. exports reached a record-setting $152.5 billion, an increase of 58 percent over the last five years. Members and witnesses emphasized that 95 percent of the world’s population resides outside of the U.S., meaning it is imperative that the U.S. works to expand market access and eliminate international trade barriers. The way to do this is to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Members heard from four witnesses representing different agriculture industries and commodities. All emphasized how important TPA and trade are to growing and promoting their sector of agriculture on an international level.

Lastly, on Thursday, March, 19, the full committee held a business meeting where members approved H.R. 897, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015. This legislation would clarify Congressional intent regarding pesticide regulation in or near waters of the United States. The Committee on Agriculture and the full House passed this bill during the two previous Congresses, but the Senate failed to act. A 2009 court decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals applied provisions of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permitting process under the CWA, even though pesticide applications were already fully regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Therefore, farmers, ranchers, water resource boards and public health professionals are subject to costly and duplicative burdens providing no public health or environmental benefit. 


Must Reads

Agri-Pulse: House GOP budget protects farm bill programs

The Hill: Trade promotion authority sows growth in American agriculture

 

Members in the Media

Chairman Conaway: NATIONAL AG DAY: Honoring Texas farmers and ranchers on National Agriculture Day

Rep. Walorski: Jackie Walorski continued her tour of Indiana agriculture

Rep. Lucas: Protecting American agriculture


House Highlights

On Tuesday, the House passed H.R. 1029, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015, by a vote of 236-181.  (See Roll Call #121)  H.R. 1029 amends federal law relating to the Scientific Advisory Board to: 1) establish qualifications for members; 2) reinforce independence of the Board; 3) facilitate public participation in the Board’s advisory activities; and 4) limit the advice given by the Board to scientific determinations, rather than policy direction.

On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 1030, the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014, by a vote of 241-175 (See Roll Call #125).  H.R. 1030 prohibits the EPA from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating any risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support the regulation or guidance is: 1) specifically identified; and 2) publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results.     

On Thursday, the House passed S.J.Res. 8, a resolution Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation case procedures, by a vote of 232-186 (See Roll Call #128)  S.J.Res. 8 disapproves and nullifies the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) published on December 15, 2014 related to representation case procedures.  In December, 2014 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) finalized a rule that dramatically alters long-standing policies governing union elections.  The rule (known as the “ambush elections rule”) drastically cuts the time between the filing of a certification petition and the conduct of an NLRB secret ballot election.  Under the rule, workers could have as little as 11 days to consider all of the facts about joining a union before casting ballots, and the rule restricts the rights of employers and employees to communicate during a union organizing campaign by eliminating pre-election evidentiary hearings and requests for review.  The rule delays decisions on important questions related to voter eligibility, and requires employers to provide their employees’ personal information to union leaders conducting an organizing campaign.  The rule is set to be finalized on April 14, 2015.

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Full Committee – Public Hearing 
RE: Examination of the costs and impacts of mandatory biotechnology laws  

Tuesday, March 24, 2015 – 1:00 p.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit – Public Hearing
RE:  Reauthorizing the CFTC:  End-User Views

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 – 9:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture
RE: To examine the implications of potential retaliatory measures taken against the United States in response to meat labeling requirements

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 – 1:30 p.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 
Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit – Public Hearing
RE:  Reauthorizing the CFTC:  Market Participant Views

Thursday, March 26, 2015 – 9:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
RE: Implementing the Agricultural Act of 2014:  Commodity Policy and Crop Insurance



 
WEBSITE | UNSUBSCRIBE | CONTACT