After months of pressing the U.S. Department of Labor to scrap proposed rules that would restrict the ability of young Missourians to consider agricultural-related careers and limit farmers’ options when hiring young people, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) today said the agency has agreed to revisit the parental exemption regulation.

The Labor Department proposal now will have broader exemptions for children whose parents own or operate farms, or have a substantial interest in a farm partnership or corporation. The rules would still ban children younger than 16 from using most power-driven equipment and prevent those younger than 18 from working in feed lots, grain bins and stockyards.

“I appreciate that the department is hearing the voice of the people and addressing some of our concerns, but they have a long way to go to make it right. I will continue to fight this rule and closely monitor the department in an effort to make sure that all of agriculture’s concerns are addressed,” Luetkemeyer said. “The farming tradition runs deep in Missouri and across our country. I understand and appreciate the department’s concern for the safety of our youth, but they must understand how harmful these proposed regulations will be to rural communities. I am confident that parents, relatives and neighbors are more concerned about the safety of our youth on the farm than the government is.”

In a letter last month to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Luetkemeyer and other members of Congress argued that while there is an existing exemption in the proposed rule for children working on a family-owned or operated farm, the previous rules would have restricted many jobs currently available to younger workers, unless employed directly by a parent. In essence, the previous proposed rules would have prohibited nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, etc. from assuming farm roles they have traditionally participated in. 

When the Labor Department first announced the proposed rules in September 2011, Luetkemeyer successfully fought for an extension of the comment period on the proposed changes by a month. During that time, Luetkemeyer’s offices received dozens of calls from concerned farm families about the impact of the proposed rules. About 98 percent of American farms are family-owned operations and many farms are jointly owned by several family members.

“Today’s decision is a small victory for a way of life in the country. I want to thank all those folks who continue to support our efforts to prevent the federal government for implementing troubling restrictions on our farm families,” Luetkemeyer said.

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