Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) is urging his colleagues to vote NO on an amendment proposed by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) that aims to place additional regulatory requirements on our nations farmers and ranchers:
Dear Colleague:
I write to urge your strong opposition to the amendment by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) that aims to place additional regulatory requirements on our nations farmers and ranchers.
If you loved the Department of Labor’s overreach on child labor regulations that would have prevented 4-H kids or FFA kids from helping mom and dad on the farm, you are going to love this amendment.
This amendment would require new regulations on farmers and ranchers requiring that each and every one of them would have to meet a test that bureaucrats downtown will come up with that will decide if they are “actively engaged” in farming or ranching. Yes. You heard that right. Under this amendment, Washington bureaucrats will establish regulations that will say to each farmer and rancher what is and what is not actively engaged in farming or ranching.
Beyond putting bureaucrats in Washington in charge of deciding who does what chores on the farm or ranch, it puts in place pay limits and other rules that are as out of date as the command and control regulations this amendment tries to slap on farmers and ranchers. FARRM eliminates direct payments and will only provide support in the event of market collapse. However, this amendment would reduce the already restrictive payment caps that are in place by another 60 percent, completely undermining the safety net at the time when it is needed most.
I urge my colleagues to Vote NO on the Fortenberry Amendment #93.
Sincerely,
Frank D. Lucas
Chairman, House Agriculture Committee