Rep. Gibbs Applauds Senate Committee Action on H.R. 872

Release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  Congressman Bob Gibbs issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry approved H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011.  Congressman Gibbs introduced this bipartisan legislation that passed the House on March 31, 2011 by a vote of 292-130 with over 30 Democratic co-sponsors and 57 Democrat “yea” votes.

 

“I am pleased to see that my bill, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, has been approved by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. 

 

“HR 872 is a bipartisan effort to remove duplicative and costly ‘red-tape’ requirements that provide no additional health or environmental benefits.  Failure to pass this legislation would prove to be a huge barrier to job creation, as well as a disastrous, unnecessary expansion of government.

 

“I call on Senator Reid to allow the Senate to vote on this common sense legislation that will reduce the regulatory burden weighing down our economy and stifling job creation.   Then, not only will we continue to have a safe environment, but also a better environment for economic growth.”

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) already comprehensively regulates the distribution, sale, and use of pesticides.  H.R. 872 provides assurance that the regulated pesticide community is not subject to redundant and unnecessary permitting requirements if they are in compliance with EPA’s current regulations.  Without a legislative fix, the requirement would impose an economic burden to agricultural producers, foresters, public health agencies, the federal government, state agencies, and every day citizens.