Farm-state Republicans in the U.S. House, including Northwest Missouri's Sam Graves, want to apply the brakes to congressional consideration of climate change and energy legislation.

All GOP members of the House Agriculture Committee signed a letter Tuesday asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi to delay the chamber's debate on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The Republicans want more time to hold hearings on the impact of the measure.

Ms. Pelosi, a California Democrat, set Friday as the date for completion of committee work.

The Agriculture Committee held a hearing last week that focused on the rural impact of energy legislation. "The Committee took testimony from eight witnesses, covering a wide variety of rural interests," the letter to Ms. Pelosi reads. "All witnesses said they could not support the bill. Beyond these witnesses, 99 agriculture organizations have already publicly expressed opposition to the bill and more are added to the list each day."

Other of the region's congressmen sit on the committee and signed the letter, including Reps. Steve King of Southwest Iowa and Jeff Fortenberry of Southeast Nebraska. Another panel member, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, who represents a central and northerneastern Missouri district, also signed.

Mr. Graves has been wary of the so-called Waxman-Markey Bill, speaking out against it in his role as the top Republican on the Small Business Committee.

"“A bill that has been projected to decrease farmers’ average net income by 57 percent is a bad bill," he said, taking aim at Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman, also a Californian. "Chairman Waxman and Speaker Pelosi are not considering what is best for all Americans. Their Hollywood and San Francisco constituents will not face the hardships this bill will bring to farmers.”