This is harvest season for farming families like Joe and Melissa Edmondson, owners of Topashaw Farms. This Vardaman family grows everything from soybeans to sweet potatoes which are currently being harvested in Calhoun County. This is a family operation that includes their three children and spouses. Together they manage a workforce of 200, cultivate 6,800 acres and operate a fast-paced potato packing business. The pressure to get their crop to the market doesn't come close to the constant burden they experience from burdensome federal government regulations.

Packing and shipping potatoes

Storage space will be their biggest challenge this year, and that's a good problem to have. They hope for higher yields in the future, but that's going to take more water to make that happen.

Time to dig

Joe needs to build an additional water reservoir on his property. Two years ago, he got permits, but then the federal government started talking about changing the rules. Now he is forced to wait and see if final approval will ever come. This is a story I hear over and over from our farmers.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Clean Water Act (CWA) make it impossible for farmers to carry out basic farming practices on their land. The penalties for what the EPA perceives to be a small violation can lead farmers down a path of litigation and into financial devastation. The EPA and their effort to expand jurisdiction will not only hurt farming operations as we know them, but could discourage a future generation from entering the industry. I have made this argument to the EPA and won't stop until I get them to listen. Rules that hurt our farmers have far-reaching effects that go well beyond the fields.

The Edmondson Family
Joe, Melissa, Lindsey, Cody and Trent Edmondson
Shaun and Brandi Parker

The Edmondsons have spent their lives raising a family in Calhoun County. It has always been their dream to make a living and to do it in such a way that respects the land. They, like so many in the farming community, know that the future will one day be in the hands of their children. Through my role on the House Agriculture Committee, I will continue to work to preserve the future of family farming businesses.

I'll have more stories like this in the coming months. My goal is to search for solutions that make government work for you. If you know anyone who feels the burden of federal regulations, please contact my office.

ACTIONS IN THE HOUSE

VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act

In the military and civilian workforce, accountability is expected and required. If a person repeatedly shows a lack of accountability in his or her job, they are appropriately reprimanded and in some cases even fired. The same should apply to all sectors of the federal government. This week I voted to make sure that the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs has additional tools to meaningfully reprimand and in necessary cases fire employees for misconduct and performance. H.R. 5620 the VA Accountability First and Appeal Modernization Act also includes additional protections for whistleblowers within the agency. The bill addresses the disability benefits appeals process by including reforms that will achieve more timely and accurate decisions in the claims and appeals process for veterans.

Regulatory Integrity Act of 2016

A big part of the problem with the burdensome regulations coming out of Washington is that people within agencies are writing rules and regulations about industries they have zero personal experience working in. The House has even found instances in which agencies were using taxpayer dollars to lobby in support of their misguided draft regulations and trying to hide their efforts. To stop this corrupt practice and bring more transparency to the proposed rule making process, the House passed H.R. 5226, the Regulatory Integrity Act of 2016. If signed into law, the bill requires agencies to make the information on proposed rules available in a central location, such as online, and in a searchable easy to access format. The bill also puts a stop to their immoral lobbying efforts.

Prohibiting Transfer of Detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

The House continues to enact measures to stop the administration from transferring detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba by this week passing H.R. 5620. This is about keeping our nation safe and I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation. Similar provisions are also included in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 and appropriations bills.

Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act

Beginning in 2017, taxpayers aged 65 and older will be subject to a tax increase caused by the healthcare law. The House passed and I voted for H.R. 3590, the Halt Tax Increases on Middle Class and Seniors Act. The healthcare law changed the income threshold used to determine the deduction for medical care expenses for people 65 and older. Without this legislation being signed into law, the tax increase is scheduled to take effect at the beginning of next year. H.R. 3590 will now go to the Senate for further action.

a week in pictures

American College of Cardiology
Dr. Trey Clark, Dr. Thad Waites,
Dr. Bo Calhoun and Dr. Sarosh Batlivala

American Israeli Public Affairs Committee
Rebecca Federman and Jerry Dattel

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Anita Bales, Christina Wright, Jane Streets,
Susan Martin and Beth Davis

Mississippi Bankers Association

Columbus Air Force Base Sergeants Association
MSgt Richard Neal, SMSgt Joseph Arce,
MSgt Nesha Willis and TSgt Adrian Galcik

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Memphis District
COL Michael Ellicott, Jim Lloyd,
Derrick Smith and Danny Ward

Vicksburg Corps of Engineers
Jacob Brister, COL Michael Derosier and
Patricia Hemphill

stay in touch

Let me know if there is anything my office can do to assist you. You can keep up with the latest news by signing up for my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Member of Congress