Corn growers appreciate support of resolution to limit EPA actions

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Nebraska Corn Board said today that they appreciated the support of Nebraska Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns for S.J. Resolution 26 – the Murkowski Disapproval Resolution – that would have signaled to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to hold off on regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Both Nebraska Senators were co-sponsors of the disapproval resolution introduced by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, and both voted for the measure, which failed by a 47-53 vote yesterday.

“The Clean Air Act was created to regulate pollutants. Greenhouse gases should not be regulated in the same way as lead emissions, smog or soot,” Brandon Hunnicutt, a farmer from Giltner and president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, said in news release. “We appreciate Senator Nelson and Senator Johanns support of the resolution that would have let EPA know to hold off on its actions. We will continue to examine avenues to change the direction EPA is moving and encourage EPA to hold off on putting any additional regulatory burden and costs on the backs of Nebraskans.”

Alan Tiemann, a farmer from Seward and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board, said the EPA overstepped its bounds with overly zealous regulatory actions.

“The response to that decision will be a series of Clean Air Act regulations that will have significant consequences for agriculture and small businesses,” Tiemann said. “EPA’s regulations will raise input costs for farmers, make our products less competitive in international markets and impact Nebraskans in countless ways. We thank Senators Johanns and Nelson for supporting the resolution.”