WASHINGTON, DC - The Environment Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), today scheduled a hearing for Thursday, November 9, 2017, at 10:15 a.m. in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “H.R.___, Farm Regulatory Certainty Act."
#SubEnvironment will examine a Discussion Draft sponsored by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) that seeks to protect farmers, who are trying to do the right thing and comply with applicable requirements, from being targeted by citizen suits under the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). H.R.___, Farm Regulatory Certainty Act, would amend the citizen suit provision of RCRA with respect to agricultural operations. The Newhouse Discussion Draft would not allow a citizen suit to be brought against an agricultural operation if the state or Environmental Protection Agency is already actively working with the agricultural operation through a civil, criminal, or administrative action to address identified problems.
“Our farmers provide a valuable asset to our nation and we should make the most of any opportunity to protect them from duplicative litigation," said Chairman Shimkus. “I’m looking forward to reviewing Mr. Newhouse’s legislation with our members as it continues to make its way through the legislative process."
The Majority Memorandum, witness list, and witness testimony will be available here as they are posted.
