Clarifying My Views on the Obama Administration, the EPA and USDA

I generally feel that I have been treated fairly by the press during my many years in public service. Unfortunately, a comment I recently made at an Agriculture Committee hearing was misinterpreted by Politico newspaper as a criticism of the Obama Administration. This misinterpretation continues to be cited by other news organizations and I would like to set the record straight.

While speaking at an Agriculture hearing on the effects of climate change on agriculture, I commented that I believe it's difficult for policy makers in the East to understand rural farmers in the West. I was referring to the difference between the US Department of Agriculture and the US Environmental Protection Agency. My comment and the bulk of the hearing focused on the pending American Clean Energy and Security Act. My comment was referring to differences being worked out between the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The EPA has an important role to play as the caretaker of our environment. However, the staff of the EPA does not necessarily understand the unique challenges faced by farmers and agriculture operations. The USDA on the other hand has been working with farmers for years and is in a much better position to help them meet the challenges of addressing climate change.

This is the important point I was trying to explain at the hearing when discussing the Obama Administration's efforts on climate and energy. Further, this is exactly the policy I pursued in the energy bill as I negotiated farmer-friendly provisions into the language of the legislation. I am sure there was no malicious intent by Politico and I believe they make a sincere effort to be fair and accurate. However, I wanted to set the record straight. My comments had very little to do with the Obama Administration and everything to do with my farming families back home.