Westerman, Ag Committee Introduce Reversal of Regulatory Burdens and Reduction of Farm Input Costs

Statement

This week, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15), introduced H.R. 8069, the Reducing Farm Input Costs and Barriers to Domestic Production Act. The bill requires the Biden Administration to reverse its regulatory barriers to domestic agriculture production and provide immediate relief to families across the country. Congressmen Westerman and Thompson were joined by more than 19 original cosponsors, including Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, Dan Newhouse.

Following the introduction of the bill, the members released the following statement:

"Contrary to what my friends across the aisle might think, the answer to every problem is not always to impose the weight of the government on the economy and businesses," said Rep. Westerman. "This bill combats the growing food crisis by cutting harmful regulatory burdens, addressing farm input costs, and providing certainty for farmers and producers. Rather than attacking private industry, we will give American farmers the tools they need to provide immediate relief to families here in the United States and abroad."

"The U.S. and the world face a disrupted global food system resulting in increased energy prices, fertilizer cost spikes and shortages, and worsening food scarcities in developing countries," said Rep. Thompson. "We're in a crisis moment, and we need concrete, immediate policy actions to help mitigate impacts both at home and abroad. American agriculture, if given the right tools and regulatory confidence, can serve a vital role in alleviating global food instability and mitigating costs for consumers.

Despite these circumstances, the Biden Administration has neglected to take serious action to increase American production. In fact, since the war in Ukraine began, the Administration has continued to take nonsensical regulatory and policy actions that have created needless uncertainty for farmers, ranchers, and working families, and has further limited our ability to meet the food demands of our nation and the world. This bill will reverse many of the more harmful regulatory burdens spearheaded by this administration, address escalating input costs, and provide certainty to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, and other entities across our food and ag supply chains."

Specifically, the bill:

Provides relief from EPA's unprecedented actions related to crop protection tools
Offers clarity related to WOTUS regulations
Rescinds the SEC's harmful proposed rule on climate-related disclosures
Reinstates the 2020 NEPA streamlining
Requires an economic analysis on the costs and benefits of GIPSA rules

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