A rider on the Senate Interior Appropriations bill seeks to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from funding campaigns against agriculture. The rider, one of many on the bill, followed the EPA billboard funding controversy in Washington State. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman, Republican Pat Roberts, applauded the Senate Appropriations Committee for advancing the bill last week. However, Democrats on the Appropriations Committee warned the bill would be a non-starter on the Senate floor.
At issue was an advocacy campaign, funded in part by a $20.5 million EPA grant. The campaign included billboards and a website attacking agriculture and urging Washington State lawmakers to increase regulation over the agricultural industry. Other riders on the spending bill include a block on the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. rule.
Source: NAFB News Service