Farm Bureau Anticipating Regulatory Reforms Under New Congress

In early January, lawmakers are likely to consider legislation that would reform the rulemaking process for federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency. AFBF Director of Environment and Energy Policy Paul Schlegel says recent EPA actions highlight the need for change.

"We, Farm Bureau, have been encouraging - very strongly - Congress to take up the issue because our experience with the Waters of the U.S., the WOTUS rule making, shows us that we need to have changes in the system to make sure that stakeholders like farmers and ranchers are protected when these rulemakings take place."

Schlegel says EPA’s overreach and scare tactics need to be checked.

"We had a circumstance in that particular rulemaking in which the agency effectively was lobbying itself. The way they used social media went over the line as to what we thought was a fair and objective approach to the rule. One of the things we have recommended to the House Judiciary Committee when they take up legislation is to address this question."

Schlegel says Congress has an opportunity to improve the rulemaking process in a way that promotes accountability and is fair.

"One of them is the mitigation policy that was proposed by the Obama administration. That’s something that the Trump administration, because it’s strictly an executive order, they can do that on the day the president comes in. We’re hopeful there will be a little bit of a change in perspective at EPA in terms of how they are looking at reregistration of pesticides, so there’s actually a number of things we want to see addressed."