Senators want pesticides regulation overturned

WASHINGTON — Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has announced his support for prompt Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee consideration of House-passed legislation to overturn a new level of regulatory burdens on the use of pesticides.

Cochran and all Republican members of the Senate Agriculture Committee have signed a letter to chairman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) that asks her to bring up for debate and approval the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (HR.872).

The House March 31 passed HR.872 with a broad, bipartisan vote, 292-130. Written to overturn the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pesticide requirements, the House-approved legislation has been referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee for consideration.

“I look forward to Senate Agriculture Committee consideration of legislation that received significant and bipartisan support in the House. That vote shows there is evident concern among policymakers about the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed pesticide regulations,” Cochran said.

While noting the introduction of a similar Senate measure (S.718), the letter to Stabenow highlights the desire among farmers, municipal and public health officials and others to have Congress address the new regulations as soon as possible.

“Agriculture producers, forestry interests, public health officials, states, municipalities, and other impacted stakeholders have told us they are in imminent need of certainty for what may be required of them in the near future. State and local officials have made clear that this is not merely a regulatory burden but could endanger public health as we enter mosquito season,” the letter said.

The letter was sent by Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and signed by Senators Cochran, Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.).

Source: Sen. Thad Cochran

One Response to “Senators want pesticides regulation overturned”

1. Federal agency accuses Beverly Hills company of trafficking Thai farmworkers Says:
   April 21st, 2011 at 11:35 pm

   [...] Senators want pesticides regulation overturned WASHINGTON — Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has announced his support for prompt Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee consideration of House-passed legislation to overturn a new level of regulatory burdens on the use of pesticides. Read more on Mississippi Business Journal [...]