Press Releases
Finstad Holds EPA Administrator Regan Accountable for Burdensome Regulations on U.S. Farmers
April 20, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) participated in a House Agriculture Committee hearing this week with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan.
Congressman Finstad pressed Administrator Regan about the EPA’s overly restrictive, unscientific approaches to regulating pesticides like Chlorpyrifos and Atrazine – critical crop protection tools used by many southern Minnesota farmers.
“Mr. Administrator, I’m sure you can appreciate the frustration we in farm country have. It’s like a dog chasing a tail,” said Congressman Finstad. “To me there seems to be some tools at your disposal and we’re just not taking advantage of them.”
Congressman Finstad also asked Administrator Regan about the EPA’s unacceptably low proposed volumes for advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel and the potential negative effects on soybean prices and industry investments to increase soybean crush capacity.
Additionally, Congressman Finstad questioned the Administrator on the lack of progress of EPA’s Agricultural Science Committee under his leadership.
Watch Congressman Finstad question EPA Administrator Regan here.
Background:
Since the start of the 118th Congress, Congressman Finstad has contacted EPA Administrator Regan repeatedly on behalf of farmers in the First District:
On January 26, 2023, Congressman Finstad and 195 House members sent a letter to Administrator Regan, urging the EPA to rescind the Biden Administration’s new final rule defining “waters of the United States” (WOTUS).
On February 9, 2023, Congressman Finstad led a bipartisan, bicameral letter of 30 House members to Administrator Regan, urging the EPA to implement outstanding regulatory action that would allow the year-round sale of E15.
On April 12, 2023, Congressman Finstad joined a letter to Administrator Regan regarding the availability of Atrazine.
On April 19, 2023, Congressman Finstad signed a letter to Administrator Regan urging the EPA to increase supply of biofuels and advanced biofuels blends and highlighting concerns over the EPA’s “tailpipe rule”.
