[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 15 (Monday, January 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU AND THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AGREE: REPEAL 
                  THE $175 COW TAX: COSPONSOR H.R. 391

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                         HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 26, 2009

  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, last year, the EPA published an 
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a rule to give EPA's 
bureaucracy regulatory oversight of greenhouse gas, GHG, emissions 
under the Clean Air Act. This rule would affect both mobile and 
stationary sources.
  If EPA is allowed to implement this rule, almost every small 
agricultural operation, including family farms, will meet the 100-tons-
per year threshold. The cost of this rule will be a ``tax'' of $175 per 
cow, $88 per head of beef cattle, and $20 per hog. In addition, any new 
farms or existing farm expansion will be burdened with the ``New Source 
Review'' permitting requirements. These permits, which are extremely 
costly and time intensive, must be acquired before any new changes take 
place.
  While members of Congress may disagree on regulation of GHG 
emissions, the final decision should be made by Congress and not 
mandated by the EPA. H.R. 391 asserts Congress' authority over this 
issue by pre-empting EPA from regulating GHGs under the Clean Air Act.
  Please join me and support our farmers by cosponsoring H.R. 391. 
Congress must not allow EPA to establish regulations that place new 
costs on farmers and consumers.
  Please contact me directly or have your staff contact Rodney 
Bacigalupo at 5-2811, [email protected], to add your 
name as a cosponsor of H.R. 391 or to request further information on 
this issue.

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