Thune-Sinema Bill Would Prevent Regulation of Livestock Emissions

Press Release

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) today reintroduced the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing permits related to livestock emissions. Specifically, the bill would amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the EPA from issuing permits for any carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or methane emissions resulting from biological processes associated with livestock production.

"Livestock producers are constantly working to improve efficiency and reduce emissions from their operations," said Thune. "They should not be subject to onerous regulations and costly permit fees for their animals' emissions, which could ultimately lead to higher food costs for consumers. I'm proud to lead this legislation that would provide producers long-term certainty on this issue."

"Cutting unnecessary regulations frees Arizona cattlemen from costly permit fees and keeps prices affordable for Arizona families," said Sinema.

"The National Cattlemen's Beef Association thanks Senators Thune and Sinema for working to prevent burdensome air permitting requirements for livestock producers," said Todd Wilkinson, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. "America's cattle producers continuously work to improve our environmental sustainability. Our herd genetics, grazing management, and improved technology mean that beef produced in the United States has the lowest greenhouse gas intensity of any beef producing nation in the world. Creating burdensome permitting requirements that aren't firmly backed by sound science simply are not effective, and the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act ensures that America's cattle producers maintain our freedom to innovate."

"America's farmers and ranchers are committed to continual improvement and environmental sustainability," said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Our livestock producers continue to lower per-unit greenhouse gas emissions through innovation, technology and voluntary conservation programs. They should not be burdened with onerous regulations and costly permit fees. We thank Senators Thune and Sinema for supporting our hardworking farmers and ranchers and for introducing the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act."

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).

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