112 HR 3323 IH: Freeing Agriculture to Reap More Act
Introduced November 2, 2011
The Department of Labor recently issued new regulations (76 Fed. Reg 171) “intended to place immediate limitations on the employment of 14- and 15-year old hired farm workers, even if they had completed their certification prior to the effective date of any final rule.” This will hurt family farms that hire young people to work on the farm before or after their individual school hours.
HSLDA did not oppose the Department of Labor regulations due to the fact that the new regulations do not apply to minors who work on farms owned or operated by their parents. However, we still feel that these new limitations will damage the farm industry unnecessarily.
Additionally, these new regulations will hurt the ability of young people to learn about farming, working for a boss, and preparing for a career in agriculture. H.R. 3323 will limit the ability of unelected bureaucrats at the Department of Labor to pass excessive regulations that hurt parents, farmers, employers, and young people.