Anti-Environmental Farm Bill Rider Defeated

Environmental Defense today applauded the defeat of an anti-environmental rider to farm legislation now being debated by the Senate.

“This rider was a sweeping assault on more than 30 years of environmental, labor and public health law,” said Scott Faber of Environmental Defense. “A vote for the Bond rider was a vote against America’s most basic environmental protections.”

Proposed by Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO), the rider would have given the President broad authority to waive environmental and other laws if he determined that proposed federal agency actions would be likely to have a significant adverse economic impact on farmers or jeopardize their personal safety. The rider was defeated 54-43.

In particular, Environmental Defense applauded Senators Chafee (R-RI), Cleland (D-GA), Collins (R-ME), Ensign (R-NV), Gregg (R-NH), McCain (R-AZ), Smith (R-NH), Snowe (R-ME), Specter (R-PA), Thompson (R-TN) and Warner (R-VA) for voting against the Bond rider.

“In voting against this rider, members of the U.S. Senate supported the essential role federal agencies play in protecting both human health and the environment,” Faber said.

The Bond amendment would have directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to review all proposed agency actions to determine economic and safety impacts to farmers. If USDA and the action agency failed to reach agreement, the decision would have then been elevated to the President. The President could have blocked the proposed agency action if he determined that it would be likely to have adversely impacted the economic health or safety of farmers. However, the President could not have blocked the agency proposal if it were needed to protect public human health or national security.

Scott Faber 202 387-3500