At a House Agriculture Committee hearing titled “Consequences of EPA’s Actions on American Agriculture,” Chair Thompson criticized the Biden administration for imposing regulations he claims punish farmers and ranchers. Thompson expressed frustration with EPA’s approach and mentioned that EPA Administrator Michael Regan had testified before the committee in April, the first such appearance since 2016. Thompson had invited Regan to testify again, but the administration deemed it unprecedented for him to appear twice in 14 months.
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), the committee’s ranking member, defended EPA, highlighting efforts to incorporate farmers into its decision-making processes. Witnesses acknowledged EPA’s attempts to engage with the agricultural community but stressed the need for further improvements.
Witnesses included: Jeff Kippley from the National Farmers Union, Chris Chinn from the Missouri Agriculture Department, Gary Cooper from the National Pork Producers Council, and Rebecca Larson from the Western Sugar Cooperative all shared their perspectives. They commended the creation of the EPA’s Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs but voiced concerns over specific regulations and their impact on agriculture.
