The Chamber

Agriculture is the cornerstone of the Lubbock economy.  Agriculture and agribusiness also represent a major sector of the national economy.  Agriculture in the Lubbock area is largely dependent on water, and water also is vital to the area’s future and to potential economic development in the Lubbock area.

• The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce fully supports reauthorization of the Farm Bill before it expires at the end of September. We understand agriculture’s role in reducing the federal deficit; however, we oppose any efforts to force agriculture to contribute more than its fair share of the process. We believe that ensuring a strong safety net for agriculture is vital to preserving the integrity of our food and fiber production, as well as the the economy of our region, so we would urge Congress to resist any legislative or administrative changes that reduce the safety net provisions included in the bill.
• Support Congressionally directed initiatives for agricultural research.
• The Chamber is supportive of additional federal / state funding for water-related research projects, as long as a project benefits the region and does not negatively impact area producers and other water users.
• Oppose  efforts to remove the word “navigable” from the Clean Water Act.  “Navigable” appears 83 times in the Act and protects landowners and businesses from excessive federal regulation over standing water.
• Support efforts to ensure that environmental regulations are based on sound science and are implemented fairly. Urge the resolution of climate change legislation in a bipartisan manner that recognizes regional differences, the state of the technology, and the compelling need for a solution that minimizes overall economic impact. Specifically, we support legislation that would:
• minimize the impact on major emitters;
• reduce price volatility for consumers;
• protect global competitiveness;
• invest in renewable energy sources;
• take advantage of nuclear power;
• streamline the permit system;
• make us the "Saudi Arabia of clean coal" by fostering carbon capture and sequestration technology;
• commit to increased environmentally responsible onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration;
• contain consumer and intellectual property protections;
• protect against agency regulation under existing laws not written for greenhouse gases;
• strengthen the hand of our international negotiators;
• increase our own energy security and energy efficiency.
• Oppose bad policies that resemble the failed climate proposals of the past, such as bills that jeopardize American jobs, create trade inequalities, leave open the Clean Air Act, open the door to CO2-based mass tort litigation, and further hamper the permitting process for clean energy.
• Educate policymakers about the tremendous local, national, and global economic implications of water policy and promote the use of sound science in setting such policy. Closely monitor supply and ownership issues and water quality concerns, including recent enforcement efforts targeting unregulated storm water discharges.
• Oppose legislative or regulatory barriers that could hinder the growth of biotechnology at the national and international levels, including opposing regulations that impair unfettered marketplace activity; monitoring food labeling requirements, standards, and monitoring expanded controls on previously unregulated commodities; and undertaking efforts, where appropriate, to communicate the desirable benefits of biotechnology.
• Oppose any misguided and misinformed efforts to eliminate all federal commodity research and promotion programs.