(update from NALP)
Legislation to Amend Federal Pesticide Law Introduced in Senate
Earlier this week, Senator Corey Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation that would largely upend the current practices and procedures for the evaluation and registration of pesticides in the United States. The Protecting America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act (PACTPA) would move the US from a risk based assessment of pesticides that is used currently to a hazard based system that is practiced in the European Union. The bill would immediately remove several pesticides from the market including the herbicide glyphosate and the neonicotinoid insecticides.
Further, the legislation would eliminate the ability for states to preempt the regulation of pesticides by political subdivisions (cities & towns) that would open the floodgates to outright bans on pesticides in many jurisdictions, as well as a new section that expands the opportunity for citizen action lawsuits and adds protections for anyone testifying or providing information in a court case involving a pesticide
The language of this bill is nearly identical to bills that were introduced into the Senate by former Utah Senator Tom Udall and in the House by Colorado Representative Joe Neguse. Despite widespread anticipation of Rep. Neguse refiling his bill in the House for the current session, including an announcement during a keynote address to an anti-pesticide organization at their annual meeting, the filing has yet to materialize. Rep. Neguse’s office indicated that he is taking time to more closely study how pesticides are currently regulated.
While we do not expect this particular bill to become law, the danger is that individual components of the law could be inserted into other pieces of legislation such as the Farm Bill. NALP has created an email campaign to alert member’s senators and representatives to our concerns about this bill. Please take a few moments to follow this link to send emails yourself. It is quick, easy and effective.