Support piled up quickly for Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and his “Protect Farmers from the SEC Act” which he filed last week—a measure designed to prevent the Biden Administration from putting unnecessary strain on family farmers by imposing burdensome environmental mandates.
Lucas’s office announced this week the measure had the support of the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cotton Council, National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Producers Council, USA Rice, American Sugar Alliance, American Soybean Association, National Potato Council, United States Cattlemen’s Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Agricultural Retailers Association, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.
Industry leaders and Members of Congress representing America’s farmers and ranchers issued statements of support for the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act:
“The SEC’s proposed climate rules are a major government overreach and would make it nearly impossible for farmers to continue to farm the way they do—keeping sustainability and conservation in mind,” said Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse.
“Like so many other critical industries, the Biden Administration is putting unnecessary strain on family farmers by imposing burdensome environmental mandates,” said Congressman Good (R-VA).
“Without the changes laid out in this bill brought forth by Rep. Lucas, the proposed SEC regulations would be nearly impossible to comply with and the ramifications would be felt throughout our nation’s food supply and by our consumers,” said Rodd Moesel, OKFarm Bureau President.
“The SEC is considering rules that would create an overwhelming documentation burden on Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers requiring data that doesn’t exist nor is it necessary,” said Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey.
“The Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed climate disclosure rule could create substantial costs and legal liabilities for farm families. Unlike large corporations, farmers don’t have teams of compliance officers or attorneys dedicated to handling SEC compliance issues,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.
“The SEC’s climate disclosure rule would lead to unintended consequences for small businesses like farms and ranches and adds yet another regulatory burden on cattle producers. NCBA is grateful to Rep. Lucas for protecting cattle producers from more federal overreach,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Natural Resources Kaitlynn Glover.
“This regulation could add layers of reporting requirements on wheat farmers that are focused on producing a quality wheat crop for domestic and international customers. With all the uncertainty in agriculture today, we don’t need additional regulation, we need to focus on keeping farming operations productive,” said National Association of Wheat Growers President and Washington State wheat grower Nicole Berg.
National Cotton Council Chairman Ted Schneider said the U.S. cotton industry welcomes Representative Lucas’ bill which will prevent more unnecessary regulation of this nation’s producers and ranchers.
“Not only would the SEC’s proposed climate rule be wildly burdensome, expensive and impossible for many farmers to comply with, but it also raises serious data privacy concerns,” said Minnesota farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Tom Haag.
“USA Rice applauds Congressman Lucas’ introduction of the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act,” said Kirk Satterfield, a Mississippi rice farmer and Chair of USA Rice. “This legislation would protect farmers against undue regulatory burden and overreach, and we hope that Congress will pass this bill.”
Lucas was joined by 101 original cosponsors, including Representatives John Rose (TN-06), Austin Scott (GA-08), Ron Estes (KS-04), Mike Rogers (AL-03), Dan Meuser (PA-09), Tom Cole (0K-04), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Rick Crawford (AR-01), Jake La Turner (KS-02), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Bob Gibbs (OH-07), Barry Moore (AL-02), Jim Baird (IN-04), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Randy Weber (TX-14), John Curtis (UT-03), Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Ken Buck (CO-04), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Mary Miller (IL-15), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Sam Graves (MO-06), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Rob Wittman (VA-01), David Rouzer (NC-07), Chris Stewart (UT-02), Ted Budd (NC-13), Rick Allen (GA-12), Scott Franklin (FL-15), Michael Guest (MS-03), Bruce Westerman (AR-04), Ashley Hinson (IA-01), Liz Cheney (WY-AL), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Steve Womack (AR-03), Tim Walberg (MI-07), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Richard Hudson (NC-08), Greg Pence (IN-06), August Pfluger (TX-11), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Jerry L. Carl (AL-01), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Young Kim (CA-39), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Yvette Herrell (NM-02), Bill Posey (FL-08), Mike Bost (IL-12), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Mike Flood (NE-01), Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Mike Carey (OH-15), David McKinley (WV-01), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Bob Good (VA-05), Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Larry Bucshon (IN-08), Chris Jacobs (NY-27), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Michael Waltz (FL-06), Andy Barr (KY-06) Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL), Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Mike Johnson (LA-04), Mayra Flores (TX-34), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Kevin Brady (TX-08), Ben Cline (VA-06), Troy E. Nehls (TX-22), Vicky Hartzler (MO-4), Matt Rosendale (MT-AL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Roger Williams (TX-25), Brian Babin (TX-36), Tom Emmer (MN-06), Matt Rosendale (MT-AL), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Darin LaHood (IL-18), Brad Finstad (MN-01), and David Kustoff (TN-8).
Read more about the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act here.
For bill text of Protect Farmers from the SEC Act, click here.
Source: Lucas press release