WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Debbie Stabenow, chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, applauded the U.S. Department of Labor’s move to return to the drawing board on a controversial farm labor rule that would have prevented many young people from working on family farms.

Sen. Stabenow encouraged reconsideration of the proposal and urged solicitation of public input before making any changes to the “parental exemption” of the rule related to child labor in agriculture.

The Department of Labor has agreed to open a dialogue with family farmers on the issue.

“Of course, there should be safeguards to protect children from dangerous situations, but there needs to be an understanding that many children in rural communities learn about safety by helping their family on the farm,” Stabenow said.