For the Week Ending February 8, 2019
WHEERLER EPA NOMINATION ADVANCES TO SENATE FLOOR
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Tuesday advanced the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be the permanent administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (He’s currently acting administrator.) Wheeler’s nomination passed on an 11-10 vote and now goes to the Senate floor for a final vote.
SENATE, HOUSE AGRICULTURE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS ANNOUNCED
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson, D-Minn., and Ranking Member Mike Conaway, R-Texas, this week announced members’ assignments to their respective committees’ various subcommittees for the 116th Congress. For a complete list of the Senate subcommittees’ rosters, click here, for the House rosters, click here.
GROUPS FILE PETITION FOR HOURS OF SERVICE EXEMPTION
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration this week announced that it has received and will begin reviewing a petition filed by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Livestock Marketing Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association and the National Aquaculture Association requesting an exemption from certain provisions under the Hours of Service rules. The groups are seeking to expand the regulations under which livestock haulers can operate from the current 11-hour limit in a 14-hour workday to 15 hours over the course of a 16-hour workday. Comments on the request for exemption are due March 8, 2019.
WHAT’S AHEAD
EPA TO HOLD HEARING ON PROPOSED ‘WOTUS’ RULE
The Environmental Protection Agency this week announced that it will hold a public hearing on the agency’s proposed new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The hearing will take place in Kansas City, Kan., Feb. 27-28, 2019. The proposed regulation would replace the 2015 Obama-era WOTUS rule, which substantially increased EPA’s authority over various waters and lands adjacent to them, including farm fields and ditches. The WOTUS proposal is expected to be published in the Federal Register in the coming days; once published, there will be a 60-day public comment period on it. NPPC will provide comment.
2019 NATIONAL PORK INDUSTRY FORUM APPROACHING
The National Pork Industry Forum – NPPC’s annual business meeting – will be held in Orlando, Fla., from March 6-8. During the event, NPPC will elect new officers and members to its board of directors.