Submitted
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01) and Rudy Yakym (IN-02) introduced H.R. 4956, the Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act, in response to President Biden’s overreaching, unconstitutional Waters of the U.S. rule.
“Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers know their operations far better than the federal government does,” said Rep. Mann. “They deserve a seat at the table when policies impacting their livelihoods are up for discussion. This legislation would establish a farmer-led advisory committee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bring together real-world experience, share insight into how rules like President Biden’s Waters of the U.S. rule negatively impacts agriculture, and offer solutions to eliminate unnecessary red-tape hindering agricultural productivity. I am proud to represent farmers and ranchers in the Big First District, remain committed to hearing their concerns, and am thankful to introduce this legislation alongside Representative Yakym.”
“Hoosier farmers make some of the best product anywhere in the world, but all too often they have had to contend with heavy-handed federal overreach from the Biden Administration,” said Rep. Yakym. “Nowhere has this been clearer than with this Administration’s overzealous enforcement of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Our commonsense legislation is an important way to fight back against federal overreach and support America’s farmers and ag producers by giving them a seat at the table when it comes to policy decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods. I am proud to work with Representative Mann on this legislation that will help ensure our farmers can continue to feed our nation and the rest of the world.”
This legislation establishes an advisory committee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, comprised of farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, trade association representatives, and representatives from state departments of agriculture. The committee will examine:
● The impact of rules like the Waters of the U.S. rule on production agriculture.
● Cases where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided conflicting rulings for the same or similarly situated tracts of land.
● The impact of overreaching regulations on food supply chains.
● Solutions for a clearer Waters of the U.S. rule, including exemptions for those involved in production agriculture
Rep. Mann proudly serves on the House Agriculture Committee and is the Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. The Big First is home to 60,000 farms and ranches, is the third-largest agriculture production district in the country, and Kansas agricultural producers sell $10 billion worth of livestock, dairy, poultry, and products like beef, milk, and eggs every year.