Press Releases

Gosar Supports Legislation to Stop Nonsensical Dust Regulations

Earlier today, U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-01) voted in favor of the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011, legislation that prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating rural dust.  The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1633 in a bipartisan 268-150 vote.

Prior to the vote, Congressman Gosar spoke in favor of the legislation on the House floor:

 “It’s almost unfathomable to think that legislation is necessary to protect Arizona against federal bureaucrats who want to regulate dust but here we are. When the government goes so far as to make naturally occurring dust illegal, then it makes every farmer, every Sunday driver and every family a criminal.”

Video of Gosar’s full speech can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDBa5AxFkUk&feature=g-upl

It’s important to also note that this bill covers dust which has been found to have no adverse human health effects. H.R. 1633 has received support from over 190 agriculture organizations including the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation, Arizona Cattle Feeders’ Association, Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association, Arizona Cotton Growers Association and the National Cattleman’s Association.

"The bill would exclude from federal regulation nuisance farm dust that occurs naturally in the course of normal farming activities—dust predominantly in rural areas. I would like to thank Congressman Gosar for his vote and his efforts on behalf of Arizona agriculture," said Kevin Rogers, President of the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation.

“This morning the cattle troughs had ice on them and the EPA’s non-attainment designation for PM -10 (dust) still requires cattle producers to sprinkle water in their cattle pens.  We need a little more common sense, a lot better recognition of our dry arid environment, less command-and-control regulations, and more emphasis on producing food rather than paper work,” said Andy Groseta, President of the Arizona Cattle Grower’s Association.

The bill now moves to the Senate where Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) recently introduced a similar bill.

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