CDL Clarification Bill & "Preserving America's Family Farm Act"

In Olympia last week Governor Gregoire signed more than 100 bills into law, one of those being Substitute Senate Bill 6423. This bill will preserve and create agricultural jobs by clarifying that farmers operating farm vehicles are exempt from the CDL requirement when the farm vehicles are used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, farm supplies, or any combination of those materials to or from their farms within a 150 mile radius. Normally, under current state law, drivers of commercial motor vehicles must first obtain a commercial driver's license and applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle they are driving.

On the federal level, Rep. Tom Rooney, Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, has cosponsored the bipartisan “Preserving America’s Family Farm Act,” HR 4157, which would prevent the Department of Labor from enacting controversial new restrictions on youth working on family farms; some so specific as to even ban youth from operating a battery powered screwdriver or a pressurized garden hose. These restrictions would also severely limit participation in 4-H and FFA activities as well as farm safety classes. Doc Hastings, Representative for Washington's 4th congressional district, comments on Rooney’s proposed bill.

HASTINGS: From his introduction of that bill, he, (Rooney), wants to preserve the family farmer, but probably more importantly, he doesn’t want to have the federal government all intrusive in every facet of farm policy.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.