Let family farmers farm

As a father of four, teaching our children the satisfaction of good old hard work is tough sometimes, especially with the constant barrage of technology making our daily lives easier. Chores, summer jobs, or after school jobs still help keep our next generation grounded and teach them a strong work ethic.

For many Louisianans, chores and jobs happen to be done on family farms. But recently, these hard working family farmers are under attack by the federal government. The U.S. Department of Labor recently proposed a new farm labor policy that would have prohibited youth from doing a number of farming activities. The federal government was planning to put normal everyday farm activities like handling livestock, milking cows or operating farm equipment completely off limits for children. Their proposal would have gone so far as regulating the use of a battery powered screwdriver or a pressurized garden hose.

Children have been working on family farms for hundreds of years, but the Obama administration took it upon themselves to intervene and decided they know what’s best. This proposal had to be one of the most ridiculous ideas I’ve ever heard – even for this administration.

But this potentially burdensome regulation raises a larger question: what is the appropriate role for government bureaucrats to involve themselves at any level – local, state, or federal? Safety, especially for our children, is obviously a top priority. But who is better equipped to determine those guidelines: the government or the families who operate the farms? This over-the-top government intrusion doesn’t belong in our daily lives, and I’ll continue to oppose the ever-growing size and scope of the federal government.

Set aside the frustrating idea that the government thinks it knows best – the Department of Labor’s proposal would have seriously hindered youth from learning the valuable lessons and skills you get out of rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.

Where does it stop? If the federal government feels compelled to prohibit certain farm work, what will be next — household chores? Thankfully a number of Senators, including myself, took action and stood up to this proposal and the Department of Labor has withdrawn it. We introduced legislation that would have prohibited the implementation of this farm labor policy, and we’ll continue to push for its passage to ensure the ridiculous proposal doesn’t come up again.

When I was first elected, I knew I’d be fighting to protect our rights and liberties; however I never would have guessed that the right of hard work would need defending.

Please contact me on these or any other federal matters at any of my state offices or in my Washington office by mail at U.S. Sen. David Vitter, U.S. Senate, 516 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510, or by phone at (20) 224-4623. You can also reach me on the web at http://vitter.senate.gov.