Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling praised Oklahoma’s congressional delegation for their diligent efforts in passing the federal transportation bill June 29.
“Oklahoma farmers and ranchers owe a huge debt of gratitude to their elected representatives in the nation’s capitol for supporting the highway bill,” Spradling said.
The farm leader singled out U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and Rep. James Lankford for their work on the federal legislation. They were members of the conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate measures. Last year, Lankford authored H.R. 2414, the Farmers’ Freedom Act, which allows farm trucks a limited commercial exemption from federal regulations when they travel within 150 air-miles of their farm. The language was strongly supported by Inhofe and Rep. Dan Boren, who has been working on the legislation for the past several congressional sessions.
“They have worked tirelessly the past two years to pass language exempting farm trucks from burdensome commercial vehicle regulations,” Spradling said. “This legislation allows our members to efficiently transport and market their commodities. It is especially critical for farmers and ranchers living near state borders who often need to transport commodities to markets across the state line.”
Spradling said farmers were not asking for safety exemptions, as they want to ensure the roads remain safe for the traveling public.
“Farmers are not commercial truckers who are on the roads every day,” Spradling said.
Lankford, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said the old transportation legislation was another example of government over regulation.
“We were slowing down commerce with burdensome regulations,” Lankford said. “I am not anti-government, but I am against big, inefficient government.”
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