Issue Position: Agriculture and Food

Issue Position

Agriculture is an important job creator and a major contributor to the U.S. economy, and particularly that of the 2nd District. In fact, Michigan's agri-food and agri-energy system has a $71.3 billion impact to our state and employs nearly a quarter of the state's workforce. The agricultural diversity in the 2nd Congressional District is second only to California. In fact, the 2nd District leads Michigan not only in market value, but also in livestock, poultry, pork, fruit, nursery, greenhouse, and floriculture production.

It is important for Congress to provide an environment in which agricultural producers can flourish and remain competitive domestically, and abroad. As Congress debates the various agricultural issues, I will be focused on trade, labor, and regulation and its impact on Michigan's agricultural businesses. I've joined the Congressional Dairy Caucus to promote a positive environment for these businesses to prosper.

I also recently moved to protect our farmers is by cosponsoring legislation, H.R. 681, and co-signing a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, urging the agency to finalize a rule exempting milk storage facilities from Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations. Under this rule, milk is classified in the same category as petroleum due to its animal fat content. This is just one example of how unnecessary regulation is hurting our farmers.

I also co-sponsored H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, which amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act which will help our farmers avoid hefty and unnecessary additional regulations, fines and administrative burdens. We want to ensure we maintain the 2nd District and the state's robust agriculture industry and job creating tradition.

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