WASHINGTON — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urged the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to pass legislation that would stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing permits intended to reduce livestock emissions.

The Livestock Regulatory Protection Act was initially proposed in April 2021 by Senators John Thune and Kyrsten Sinema.

“American cattle producers’ commitment to reducing their environmental footprint while simultaneously improving efficiency makes our farms and ranches the most sustainable in the world,” said Mary-Thomas Hart, NCBA chief counsel. “Unfortunately, overregulation and excessive permitting would jeopardize the cattle industry’s progress towards greater sustainability. NCBA strongly supports the Livestock Regulatory Protection Act, which protects farmers and ranchers from onerous regulation. We thank Senators John Thune (R-SD), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), John Boozman (R-Ariz.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for their sponsorship and we urge all senators to support this bill.”

Other supporters of the bill include the American Farm Bureau Federation, Ducks Unlimited, US Cattlemen’s Association, American Sheep Industry Association, National Bison Association, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association (SDCA).

“America’s beef producers, like consumers and regulators, are focused on continuous improvement in environmental conservation and sustainability,” said Eric Jennings, SDCA president. “Creating burdensome permitting requirements that aren’t firmly backed by sound science aren’t an effective solution to improving the environment, incentivizing good environmental management is.”

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works heard NCBA’s testimony on Sept. 7 and will vote on the bill before opening it up to the Senate floor.