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Criticisms of the EPA Mount
The Science Advisory Board of the EPA, Representative Daniel Kildee (D - MI), and numerous state attorneys general are criticizing the EPA for multiple reasons.
The EPA's board of scientists and researchers recently urged the agency to reconsider its rollback on auto emissions. They do not believe the decision is consistent with the best available science, creating suspicion that the EPA will not follow this
principle in the future. For the past two days, the EPA has met with its advisory board to discuss this decision as well as other proposed regulations.
Rep. Kildee also recently criticized the EPA, citing the decision to make a recent summit "limited to federal agency and state representatives" as unlawful. After Kildee's staff members were not given access to the meeting, he tweeted that the "lack of transparency and willingness to deny access to Members of Congress and the media is deeply troubling." Following this, others have voiced their concerns because these governmental meetings are meant to be accessible to citizens, citing the Federal Advisory Committee Act as evidence.
The disapproval of the EPA does not end with a lack of public access to the government, however; it also includes the neglect of public safety. In fact, Attorneys General Barbara Underwood (D - NY), Xavier Becerra (D - CA), and Brian Frosh (D - MD) united their efforts and filed a joint lawsuit against the EPA for indefinitely postponing an Obama-era pesticide regulation. This rule mandated that (1) a person must be 18 years old in order to administer pesticides and (2) that pesticide training for farm workers must be improved. As a result, the three attorneys general have acted on their claim that the EPA's inaction is against the law.
The agency's delay in enforcing another Obama-era regulation ─ one that is meant to limit the release of methane from landfills ─ sparked another lawsuit. Attorney General Becerra and eight other attorneys general have begun a joint lawsuit over what they believe to be a violation of the Clean Air Act.
It is likely that there are more lawsuits to come, especially given the controversial nature of many of the EPA's proposed regulation changes.
Raising Tariffs on Allies Leads to Retaliation
Following the Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum from Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, the three have made it clear that such action would not go unanswered. Mainly, Mexico will impose retaliatory tariffs on American pork and fruits, Canada will do the same but for maple syrup, chocolate, condiments, aluminum, and household items, and the EU listed peanut butter, clothing, steel, and kitchen items as some of their taxed imports. This is meant to make up for the increased costs our long-time allies will face. Many are anticipating a trade war due to President Trump's announcement that the country has been treated unfairly over by its trading partners over the past few decades. While farmers will be forced to deal with the consequences of his trade and tariff decisions, President Trump has made it clear that he will only accept what he calls a fair deal.
Date Set for Farm Bill House Vote, Immigration Bill Vote Soon
While the Senate may vote on its version of the farm bill
in mid-June
, the House of Representatives will hold its second vote on its version of the bill on June 22
nd
. This gives members of Congress time to review, revise, and negotiate the proposed legislation before its
expiration date, September 30
th
. Some Republican representatives intend on getting the House to vote on the immigration bill first.
These disagreements on immigration along with Congress' Memorial Day recess have slightly delayed the plan to vote on the immigration bill as soon as possible.
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