Cornyn Joins Bipartisan Bill to Block Administration's Overreaching Farm Labor Rule

Press Release

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) yesterday joined his Senate colleagues to introduce The Preserving America's Family Farm Act, which would prevent the Department of Labor (DOL) from enacting controversial proposed restrictions on youth working on family farms:

"Family farms are the backbone of Texas' agriculture industry and are a source of great pride for many hardworking folks across our state.

"Our effort to halt the unfair targeting of family farms is proof positive that folks of all political stripes can agree the regulatory onslaught from this Administration has got to come to an end."

Last year, DOL Secretary Hilda Solis proposed rules that would restrict family farm operations by prohibiting youth under the age of 18 from:

raising and working with livestock without adult supervision--which would severely limit participation in 4-H and FFA activities and restrict their education opportunities;

operating farm machinery; and

working at stockyards and grain and feed facilities.

The proposed rule is so haphazardly tailored it would even ban youth from operating common household items such as a battery powered screwdriver or a pressurized garden hose.

The bipartisan bill was introduced by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) and was also cosponsored by Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), John Barrasso (R-WY), Roy Blunt (R- MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Daniel Coats (R-IN), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Mike Lee (R-UT), Richard Lugar (R-IN), John McCain (R-AZ), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rand Paul (R-KY), James Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Pat Toomey (R-PA), David Vitter (R-LA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Armed Services and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

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