Moran Continues To Fight Cap And Tax Legislation

Press Release

Congressman Jerry Moran today requested the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Collin Peterson, to hold a committee meeting to allow Committee members to record their opposition and amend H.R. 2454, the Waxman-Markey cap and tax legislation. In a separate letter today, Moran and 17 of his Republican colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee requested Speaker Nancy Pelosi grant more time to consider the Waxman-Markey legislation.

"I notified Chairman Peterson today that it is important to hold a committee meeting due to the extensive concerns with this cap and tax," Moran said. "Given the agriculture industry's nearly unanimous opposition to this legislation, it is necessary to allow Committee members to amend this legislation, or failing that - to give them the opportunity to voice their opposition to the legislation on the record by reporting it unfavorably to the House of Representatives."

Last week, Moran participated in seven hours of testimony and discussion during a House Committee on Agriculture hearing on the cap and tax legislation. Moran questioned witnesses during the hearing on the effects of the legislation. During questioning, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack admitted that the legislation would cause farming operations to incur "additional costs", but the costs were "difficult to quantify." Sec. Vilsack also admitted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) did not have an analysis of the costs of the Waxman-Markey bill because USDA has not had enough time to complete such an analysis.

"Of the eight agricultural groups represented at the hearing last week, all opposed the legislation in its current form and all had significant changes they felt were necessary to minimize the bill's harmful impact on agriculture," Moran continued. "It became even more evident during the hearing the detrimental effect this bill would have on rural America. It is essential that Speaker Pelosi allow a more reasonable timeline in order to consider the public's discontent and allow other committees to amend this legislation."

Under the Waxman/Markey cap and tax legislation, energy costs are expected to increase raising the price of utility bills, transportation, agriculture production, and many other everyday products.

Moran is a senior member of the House Committee on Agriculture.

Source