“Farm Dust is Not an Air Pollutant;
It’s a Byproduct of American Labor”

 

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, advocated for H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011, at a subcommittee hearing on the bill today.  This bill would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing stricter farm dust regulations, removing a costly, unnecessary burden on America’s farmers and ranchers.

 

“At a time when America is suffering from the longest streak of high unemployment since the Great Depression, I cannot understand why this Administration, through the EPA, continues to support environmental regulations that have no scientifically-proven health benefits yet are guaranteed to destroy jobs,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “The EPA’s PM10 standard is one of many examples of the federal government’s bureaucratic overreach and expanding that standard would be devastating to our farms and ranches.  In Eastern Washington, whether you’re working the fields, herding cattle, or driving down a dirt road – dust will be kicked up – and that farm dust is a byproduct of American labor, not an air pollutant.  That’s why I support the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, which would prevent the EPA from imposing unachievable standards on our rural communities.”   

 

On March 16, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers wrote a letter to EPA Director Lisa Jackson encouraging her not to expand course particle (PM10) regulations on farmers and ranchers.

 

The Congresswoman spoke about the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act and other House Republican bills to create jobs at today’s Leadership stakeout.  To watch her remarks, click here.