Bond Amendment Defeated by Senate

December 14, 2001

The Senate Thursday defeated 43-54 a proposal by Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-MO) that would have given the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to review proposed federal agency actions that could have a significant adverse economic impact on or jeopardize the personal safety of farmers. If the Secretary of Agriculture had found that the proposed agency action would hurt farmers, the Secretary would have been authorized to consult with and offer alternatives courses of action to whichever agency is pushing the harmful actions. Bond offered it as an amendment to the farm bill being debated by the full Senate.

"I saw this amendment as a life-preserver for farmers whose livelihoods or safety is threatened by bad federal regulations," said Bond, who vowed to continue the fight. "I know farmers in my state who spend more time preparing for public hearings than they spend on their combines and that is down-right crazy given the hardships farmers have faced during their four-year recession."

Under the Bond amendment, if the Secretary of Agriculture cannot adequately protect farmers from the harmful effects of a proposed rule, the Secretary would have been given the authority to elevate the issue to the White House. The President would have been given the authority, under limited circumstances, to reverse or amend the agency action when he determined it was necessary to protect farmers and if it was in the public interest.

Bond said that he offered and fought for his amendment because "it is critical to give an elected official, who is accountable to the people, the limited discretion to weigh the overall public interest." Bond's amendment also sought to safeguard any action necessary to protect human health, safety, or national security.

Further, the President would have been required to consider the public record, the purpose of the agency action and competing economic interests if there were any. Finally, the legislation would have provided that a presidential action taken pursuant to this authority would be subject to expedited congressional review