Addressing farmers' concerns about over-regulation, several bills have been introduced by Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, the former ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee.
The Regulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act would ensure that regulations put forth by the executive branch "consider the economic burden" as President Obama promised in 2011 but has not followed up on, Roberts said.
The proposed law would require the administration to review, modify or repeal any regulatory actions that are "duplicative, unnecessary or burdensome" - including the pesticide permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act.
Roberts and Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns are co-sponsoring a separate bill that would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to prevent farmers from having to also get permits for pesticide applications currently registered under FIFRA.
Source: brownfieldagnews.com