Agriculture
<p>Agriculture is a key component of Michigan’s economy. After all, agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan and the state is also the second most agriculturally diverse in the country. During the challenging economic times that have plagued the Michigan economy, the steady growth of our agricultural sector has kept our economy afloat. To maintain this edge, I believe we must:</p>
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<p><strong>Prevent Undue Regulations</strong><br />
The safety of our food supply can benefit from standard rules and practices, and our farmers are committed to producing safe and affordable food for consumers. However, our farmers need to have fair and commonsense rules to live by, and I oppose excessive regulations that hinder the agricultural community like the EPA’s overreaching “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule.<br />
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To that end, in April 2015 I introduced H.R. 1993, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1993?q=%7B%22se… to Farm Act</a>, a bill <a href="http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398613">su… by Michigan’s agricultural community</a> which protects farmers from the EPA’s one-size-fits-all approach by entrusting our states with appropriate flexibility to opt-out of overly burdensome regulations. Additionally, in May 2015, I voted in support of <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1732">H.R. 1732</a>, the <a href="http://transportation.house.gov/uploadedfiles/wotusepa_4.9.15.pdf">Regu… Integrity Protection Act</a>, to preserve the existing federal-state partnership of regulating waters and require the EPA to rescind the WOTUS proposal. I remain concerned about the EPA’s covert efforts to promote the WOTUS rule, and have <a href="http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399044">ch…; legislation to ensure federal agencies do not engage in illegal lobbying. My bipartisan bill, <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114hr5226ih/pdf/BILLS-114hr5226ih.p…. 5226</a>, the Regulatory Integrity Act, increases transparency in the rulemaking process to prevent future misconduct. It <a href="http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399158">pa… the House</a> in September 2016.</p>
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<p><b><strong>Expand Markets</strong><br />
</b>Not only does south-central Michigan produce the widest array of agricultural products, it produces some of the best. It is important that we adopt policies that allow our farmers and producers to look outside our region and beyond to sell food and agricultural products. By advancing trade policies that are free, fair, and enforced, we can open new markets for Michigan-made products.</p>
<p><strong>Provide Greater Certainty</strong><br />
Farmers and agricultural producers carefully plan over the long-term to provide our nation and the world with an abundant, healthy food supply. For too long, Congress promoted uncertainty in the countryside through short-term extensions of our agricultural policy. I was proud to support the <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr2642eh/pdf/BILLS-113hr2642eh.pd… Act of 2014</a>, a five-year farm bill which makes common-sense reforms to our nation's agriculture policy, saves $26 billion, and allows our farmers to manage risk with long-term certainty. </p>
<p><b>RELATED ITEMS<br />
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</b><b>05/13/16 – Sponsored: <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114hr5226ih/pdf/BILLS-114hr5226ih.p…. 5226, Regulatory Integrity Act</a><br />
04/23/15 – Sponsored: </b><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1993?q=%7B%22se…. 1993, the Flexibility to Farm Act</a><br />
<b>07/21/15 – Sponsored: </b><a href="http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398734">H.R. 3120, Great Lakes Assurance Program Verification Act</a><br />
<strong>02/04/16 – Cosponsored: <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114hres591ih/pdf/BILLS-114hres591ih…, Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Farm Credit System</a></strong><br />
<b>01/14/15 – Cosponsored:</b> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/349?q=%7B%22sea…. 349, Great Lakes and Fresh Water Algal Bloom Information Act</a><br />
<b>01/28/15 – Cosponsored:</b> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/594?q=%7B%22sea…. 594, Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act</a><br />
<b>03/13/15 – Cosponsored: </b><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1105?q=%7B%22se…. 1105, Death Tax Repeal Act</a><br />
<b>05/18/15 – Cosponsored:</b> <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2393?q=%7B%22se…. 2393, Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act</a></p>
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Jackson, MI—Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07) today announced that two organizations in Michigan's 7th District have been awarded a total of nearly $400,000 in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants by the Great Lakes Commission. The Hillsdale Conservation District was awarded $199,998 for a project to reduce phosphorus and sediment in the Tiffin River and the Western Lake Erie basin, and the Lenawee Conservation District was awarded $200,000 to reduce phosphorus and sediment in River Raisin watershed.
Rep. Walberg sat down with WLNS to discuss the Great Lakes Assurance Program Verification Act, legislation he introduced with Rep. Candice Miller to help protect the Great Lakes from harmful algae blooms.
On Tuesday, U. S. Reps. Tim Walberg, R- Tipton, and Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, announced the Great Lakes Assurance Program Verification Act at Darling Farms.
The legislation, created by Rep. Miller, builds off the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). It encourages states throughout the Great Lakes Basin to develop voluntary agricultural assurance programs to promote conservation and minimize agricultural pollution risks.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07) and Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) today introduced the Great Lakes Assurance Program Verification Act. They were joined by officials from the Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at a press conference in Monroe County to announce the bill's introduction.
Michigan farmers are among the hardest-working individuals we represent in the U.S. House. They are also the original environmentalists, because no one takes better care of the Earth than someone who makes a living from it.
Healthy and sustainable land, water and air are a necessary prerequisite for a successful farm. And a successful future for their children and grandchildren.
I come home to Michigan every weekend for many reasons. My wife, my farm, and my truck are all here.
It's also allows me the privilege of directly listening to your common sense concerns and solutions so I can effectively be your voice in Congress.
From roundtables to coffee hours to town hall meetings, I frequently hear about the growing regulatory burden imposed by Washington bureaucrats who have little to no knowledge about what's best for our communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a prime example.
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07) introduced the Flexibility to Farm Act today to protect farmers from EPA overreach and restore common sense to farm regulations. H.R. 1993 would allow individual states to opt-out of regulations stemming from the Clear Air Act and Clean Water Act if the state's governor finds them to be excessively burdensome to the farming community. The legislation is supported by farmers across the 7th District and also the Michigan Farm Bureau.
At issue was the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) small farm grain bin guidance, which in agriculture's eyes would have overstepped a long-standing small farm exemption and positioned the agency to regulate grain bins as commercial storage.
After months of wrangling, Congress is moving toward a resolution on the contentious farm bill that sets a broad range of agriculture policies.
A House and Senate conference report on the bill is forthcoming. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who chairs the Senate agriculture committee, has expressed confidencea deal will be reached.