News
Farmer Identity Protection bill introduced
Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa has introduced a bill to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from disclosing private information about farmers and ranchers. The Farmer Identity Protection Act is cosponsored by Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly. Grassley tells reporters he took the step after the EPA responded to his letter of concern six weeks after he sent it. Grassley says, “The EPA finally responded to our letter late last week. The response was very unsatisfactory.”
The Senate Ag Committee member says it’s one thing for the EPA to release general information about farming operations but another thing to release specific information to environmental activist groups that request it, which is what the agency has been doing.
“Transparency is good for accountability. But, putting the personal information of tens of thousands of farmers in the hands of environmental activists makes no sense and is just plain wrong,” says Grassley.
Grassley says a similar bill exists in the House Ag Committee-passed farm bill which may be worked out in conference with the Senate if it ever gets to that point. In the meantime, Grassley’s seeking co-sponsors and expects support from some Democrats. He’s also hopeful there will be a separate companion bill in the House.
Grassley says the EPA’s data release has been far reaching and unnecessary, “In the data collected on Iowa farmers, the EPA disclosed information on people who owned as few as one pig and another individual who owned 12 horses.”
AUDIO: Senator Charles Grassley conference call (12:00 mp3)
Tags: Congress, EPA, Farm Legislation, Indiana, Iowa
Senator you are spot on