Pa. members call on Senate to reduce burdens

A group of US Congressman from Pennsylvania tonight will issue a joint statement calling on the US Senate to pass the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R. 872).

U.S. Representatives Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-District 5), Jason Altmire (D-District 4), Bill Shuster (R-District 9), Mike Kelly (R-District 3) and Tom Marino (R-District 10) will re-affirm their support for the bill, which passed the House of Representatives in March by a vote of 292-130.

"Western Pennsylvania small businesses have told me repeatedly that regulatory uncertainty impedes their ability to succeed and create jobs,” said Mr. Altmire, the only Democrat involved in the statement. “It’s not too often we find legislation that has as much bipartisan support as this bill.  With these regulations taking effect today, the Senate should act quickly and get this bill to the president’s desk.”

The bill would amend laws that regulate pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. It was introduced in response to a 2009 federal appeals court decision which determined that the Environmental Protection Agency must issue permits for pesticide use near waterways