Pence Announces Support for Legislation Protecting Family Farming

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence today announced his cosponsorship of H.R. 4157, the Preserving America's Family Farms Act, a bipartisan bill to prevent the Department of Labor from finalizing regulations that would significantly limit the ability of farmers to hire young men and women for basic chores.

"Like many Hoosiers who worked on a farm in their youth, I am concerned that the proposed regulations by the Department of Labor do not reflect the realities of rural America. With the summer months nearly upon us, many high school-aged students are looking forward to a summer job on the farm and earning a few dollars along the way," Pence said.

"Family farming and youth employment are traditions in Indiana and throughout the Midwest. I can think of few places better than an Indiana farm where our youth can truly learn the values of personal responsibility and hard work."

Background:

-H.R. 4157 explicitly prevents the Secretary of Labor from finalizing or enforcing the regulations proposed on September 2, 2011, that would severely limit the ability of youth to work on farms

-In December 2011, Congressman Pence joined a number of House Members in sending Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis a letter expressing concern over the proposed regulations

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