U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita has been named a "Friend of Farm Bureau" for his work in Congress on behalf of Indiana's agricultural producers. During his first term in Congress, Rokita helped lead the fight at the federal level on vital regulatory and other issues affecting Indiana farmers.
"Many of our Founding Fathers were farmers themselves, so they deeply understood the central role that agriculture played in our nation's economy," Rokita said in a press release. "But our current government in Washington doesn't seem to understand the importance of agriculture in the same way the Founders did.
"Our runaway debt shows that Washington has lost touch with the virtues of thrift and self-reliance that farmers have always understood. And the unchecked growth of federal regulations has placed a boot on the neck of individuals and businesses across this country, including farmers. I've helped to lead the fight on behalf of our farmers, and I'm thankful for Farm Bureau's support in that effort."
Indiana Farm Bureau president Don Villwock said, "The Friend of Farm Bureau award is presented to legislators who have a strong voting record on priority issues for agriculture and who have a good working relationship with Farm Bureau. Indiana Farm Bureau is extremely fortunate to have that kind of relationship with Congressman Rokita. Agriculture is an important economic driver in the Fourth Congressional District. Congressman Rokita understands the need to enact policies that will enhance and ensure agriculture's future success."
Rokita cosponsored several bills on behalf of farmers that passed the House of Representatives, including the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R. 872), which removes duplicative pesticide permitting requirements by the EPA; the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act (H.R. 1633), which would block the EPA's effort to regulate farm dust as a pollutant; and the Preserving America's Family Farms Act (H.R. 4157), to stop Department of Labor regulations that would prohibit youth from working on family farms.
Rokita also cosponsored H.R. 1259, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act, to eliminate the estate tax, and voted in support of H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act, to extend for one year the top 15 percent capital gains tax rate for all taxpayers. In addition, he is a cosponsor of H.R. 6156, to grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations for Russia and improve the ability of U.S. farmers and ranchers to sell into the Russian market.
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