Bill Text: GA SR1061 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: U.S. Dept. of Labor; urge to recall proposed policies
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-12 - Senate Read Second Time [SR1061 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SR1061-Introduced.html
12 LC 93
1042
Senate
Resolution 1061
By:
Senator Bulloch of the 11th
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the United States Department of Labor to recall proposed policies; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
agriculture is the backbone of Georgia's economy, generating over $68 billion
and employing one in seven Georgians; and
WHEREAS,
passing on the family farm to the next generation is vital to the continued
survival of the agriculture industry; and
WHEREAS,
the United States Department of Labor seeks to impose harsh, extreme, and
uncalled for regulations attempting to ban students from working on farms;
and
WHEREAS,
the proposed rules could prohibit children under 16 from being paid to operate
most power-driven equipment, including tractors and combines; and
WHEREAS,
the proposed rules will bar those under 18 from working at grain elevators,
silos, feedlots, and livestock auctions and from transporting raw farm
materials; and
WHEREAS,
the proposed rules only allow for the direct children of the single owner of the
farm to work, it would ban grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and family
friends, and it would ban children from working on family farms owned by more
than one family member or incorporated agribusiness; and
WHEREAS,
it is understood that not all farm labor jobs are suitable for children, and it
cannot be ignored that age appropriate jobs can be a positive experience that
can leave memories that last a lifetime; and
WHEREAS,
over 200,000 Georgia students participate in 4-H and FFA each year, and the
opportunities to learn safe practices in agriculture as well as simply complete
program requirements would be limited, if not eliminated, if these rules move
forward; and
WHEREAS,
under both Republican and Democratic control, Congress never held a hearing on
legislation amending the Fair Labor Standards Act to ban children under the age
of 18 from working on a farm; and
WHEREAS,
it must be noted that legislation has been introduced every year since 2005, and
in the 109th and 110th, the current United States Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis,
cosponsored the legislation; and
WHEREAS,
it can be deduced that these regulations defy the will and intent of Congress,
and it is wrong and unfair that the United States Department of Labor states
that the "youngsters working on farms are robbed of their childhood";
and
WHEREAS,
Secretary Solis has circumvented the will of Congress, and the United States
Department of Labor is reevaluating the parent exemption and is encouraged to do
so completely throughout this section of the Fair Labor Standards
Act.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body condemn
the proposed rules, urge the United States Department of Labor to recall them,
and call on Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to speak up for the farm families of
America and reject the proposed discrimination practices set forth by the Labor
Department's proposed policies.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Congress, Secretary Solis,
and Secretary Vilsack.
