U.S. House Votes for Farmers, Passes H.R. 872

Western Growers' Tom Nassif Releases Statement

IRVINE, Calif., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011 in a bipartisan vote, 292-130.

"Today is a win for American farmers everywhere, especially our farmers in California and Arizona who grow most of the nation's fresh produce. With the U.S. House's passage of H.R. 872, there's clear support for a regulatory environment that doesn't strap farmers with unnecessary red tape. The bill is a practical, bipartisan example of eliminating government regulations that needlessly increase farm business costs. Farmers already must comply with federal pesticide label requirements, but the Environmental Protection Agency is now seeking to require farmers who apply pesticides near water to clear another regulatory hurdle—obtain expensive permits under the Clean Water Act. H.R. 872 puts an end to this redundant process for pesticide use. We look forward to the Senate's approval of this common-sense approach to government regulations."

Nassif's high-resolution headshot is available on request.

About Western Growers:

Western Growers (www.wga.com) is an agricultural trade association whose members from Arizona and California grow, pack and ship 90 percent of the fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in California and 75 percent of those commodities in Arizona. This totals about half of the nation's fresh produce. Western Growers is headquartered in Irvine, Calif.

SOURCE Western Growers Association

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http://www.wga.com