WASHINGTON, DC – Following the announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that it will reconsider a portion of a proposed child labor rule, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today called on the department to withdraw the entire rule to protect the ability of youth to work on the family farm.

“While I am pleased the Department of Labor has listened to commonsense straight from America’s farmers and ranchers, this proposed regulation would threaten the most fundamental tradition in agriculture—working on the family farm,” Roberts said, “I encourage them to scrap the whole thing and start over.”

At issue is DOL’s interpretation of the “parental exemption” in the proposed rule on child labor in agriculture. The text of the proposed rule can be found here.

Working with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), an outspoken opponent of the proposed rule, Sen. Roberts also signed two letters sent by Sen. Moran to the Secretary of Labor. The first called for an extension of the comment period on the proposed rule beyond harvest when many farmers would be prohibited from issuing comment. The second letter called on the Department of Labor to withdraw the short-sided proposed rule entirely.

As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Sen. Roberts arranged briefings with the DOL on the issue for Senate agriculture staff. Prior to today’s announcement, Sen. Roberts has arranged a February 8 briefing of the Department of Labor for HELP and agriculture staff on the proposed rule and how such a complex regulation would be implemented throughout agriculture.

“This proposed rule is another unfortunate example of the kinds of burdensome and stupid regulations pouring out of this Administration,” Sen. Roberts said. “With the leadership of Jerry Moran and others, we made them think again about how this rule would change the way of life of many in farm country. I encourage them to reconsider the entire rule.”

The portion of the proposed rule in question would have placed restrictions on the many family farms that have established their operations as a corporation or a partnership. DOL’s proposal does not recognize that family farms are sophisticated businesses and that involvement of our young people is vital to the preservation of the industry.

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