By Congressman Robert Hurt
Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the great opportunity to continue to meet with and hear from Central and Southside Virginians in and across the District.
I have traveled to Martinsville, Farmville, Penhook, Keysville, South Hill, Clarksville, Cartersville, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Charlottesville, and Danville. I spoke to hundreds of constituents at a town hall meeting hosted by my alma mater, Hampden-Sydney College, spoke at the Cool Branch Fire and Rescue Flag Dedication, held constituent office hours, and toured several businesses.
Additionally, I hosted constituent roundtables where I met with 5th District Virginians and discussed issues that affect both the agriculture and manufacturing industries. During these open conversations, I routinely heard about the pressing need to shrink the size and scope of the federal government by reducing the unnecessary and costly regulations that burden our farmers and small businesses and stall economic growth.
That is why I was proud to announce the introduction of my second piece of legislation this week, the bipartisan Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, which has been endorsed by the American Farm Bureau, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and Public Lands Council.
This bill prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from burdening farmers and small business owners in rural America with additional dust regulations while maintaining our commitment to the environment, and is another step in our continued efforts to help spur job creation throughout Virginia’s 5th District.
Further regulation of dust by the EPA would unnecessarily and severely hamper the ability of farmers and other agribusinesses to conduct business. By putting an end to the EPA’s costly dust regulations, our famers and small businesses in rural areas across Central and Southside Virginia will gain the certainty and confidence necessary to focus on expanding their business and putting people back to work.