{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=381", "Rep. Baird Demands EPA Withdraw Vulnerable Species Pilot Program and Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework", "2024-03-26", "2024", "2024-03", "Republican", "House", "IN", "James R. Baird", "B001307", "baird.house.gov", "baird", "https://baird.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04), Chair of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology, along with Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, and Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04), Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan demanding his agency withdraw its Vulnerable Species Pilot Program and Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework.\n\n\u201cThe EPA\u2019s Vulnerable Species Pilot Program and Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework will force producers who already adhere to strict guidelines to comply with further restrictions on crop protection tools,\u201d said Chairman Baird. \u201cThe EPA has failed to consider that many of this program\u2019s measures are unsuitable for certain producers. I respectfully urge the EPA to withdraw the Pilot Program and Herbicide Strategy and utilize USDA expertise before proposing any future actions that could create uncertainty for rural America.\u201d\n\n\"Once again, the Biden Administration is hard at work imposing its heavy bureaucratic hand on rural America,\" said Chairman Dan Newhouse. \"The EPA's Vulnerable Species Pilot Program and the Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework will create greater uncertainty and have many negative, costly consequences for America's producers. These poorly planned proposals also ignore the science-driven, risk-based registration and review process while also disregarding stakeholder expertise. I call on the Biden Administration to immediately withdraw the proposed Pilot Program and Herbicide Strategy and to utilize proper stakeholder perspectives before proposing any future misguided actions that only create further uncertainty in rural America.\"\n\n\u201cThe EPA\u2019s proposals for the Vulnerable Species Pilot Program and Draft Herbicide Strategy Framework only compound the bureaucratic challenges that American farmers and ranchers already struggle to navigate,\u201d said Chairman Westerman. \u201cThese poorly planned and out-of-touch proposals will have staggering effects on Arkansas agriculture, hindering our nation\u2019s food supply. The EPA\u2019s failure to engage with expert stakeholders or to utilize the proper science-based processes further proves this Administration\u2019s sheer disregard for the needs of rural America. I\u2019m proud to lead the charge alongside Chairman Newhouse and Chairman Baird in calling on the EPA to immediately withdraw these onerous proposals and work with expert stakeholders to avoid any future misguided actions such as these.\u201d\n\n\u201cIndiana Farm Bureau is appreciative of Rep. Jim Baird and others who submitted a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking to withdraw the Pilot Program and Herbicide Strategy,\u201d said Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron. \u201cFarmers are incredible stewards of the land because we want to preserve it for future generations. However, this rule would limit the tools in a farmer\u2019s toolbox to grow food, fuel and fiber for the world. We\u2019re hopeful the EPA will seek guidance from producers in the future when proposing rules that could have such a great impact on food security.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlfalfa farmers produce one of the most environmentally beneficial crops found on the landscape. Alfalfa is the nation\u2019s 4th most valuable field crop and its contributions to soil conservation, nitrogen fixation, energy savings, crop rotation, and wildlife habitat is unsurpassed. However, farmers need the regulatory certainty provided by the current registration and registration review process established under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for the availability of critical crop protection tools,\u201d said Mark Wagoner, Chair of the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance. \u201cTo that end, NAFA strongly encourages EPA to withdraw its endangered species pilot program and herbicide strategy and, instead, engage with USDA and other stakeholders to develop practical solutions that balance necessary environmental protections with the needs and economic prosperity of the American farmers who provide food security for our country. If implemented as currently drafted, these proposals will dramatically increase uncertainty within the agricultural community and inflict undue burdens on farmers.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T20:32:04Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://baird.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=381"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9678779169917107, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}