Letter

Dear MC/USS:

We write to share our opposition to S. 3283, which upends the science-based safety standards that are used to protect farmers, workers, and the public. We represent a wide range of groups who rely on the availability of safe and effective pesticides in diverse settings to produce America’s food and specialty crops, fiber, and biofuel and to protect our public health and infrastructure and we support the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

FIFRA provides for federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use and establishes stringent safety standards and oversight. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and then reregistered every fifteen years. EPA is required to review the most current scientific data on health and environmental impacts for all pesticide products and impose requirements to minimize any risks before they are made available for sale and use. The data must show that products work as intended and can be used safely. Product label restrictions and instructions are designed to ensure a product is used effectively and safely in a manner that mitigates any identified risks. FIFRA already requires EPA to consider economic, social, and environmental benefits and risks, and the most recent amendments to FIFRA included in the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) added specific considerations for risks to infants and children when determining if a product can be registered. While reregistration is required to occur at least every fifteen years, it can and often does occur more frequently. EPA can initiate a review if scientific data becomes available that questions the safety of a product. For example, some of the organophosphate products specifically mentioned in S. 3283 have undergone multiple EPA risk assessments since 1996.

S. 3283 would repeal decades of federal regulation and scientific progress, undermining the work of EPA’s career scientists in the evaluation of pesticide safety and oversight of pesticide registration and use. S. 3283 would jeopardize the continued availability and innovation of pesticide products by imposing an unscientific and unbalanced process that could unnecessarily remove pest control options from those who need them to safely grow crops, to adopt conservation practices such as conservation tillage and resource-saving crop rotations, to protect homes and infrastructure, to control pathogens and disease vectors, and to maintain green spaces, such as parks and golf courses.

Pesticide manufacturers, pesticide users, and the public all have an interest in ensuring that the pesticide regulatory process imposes stringent regulatory controls on pesticide use based on the principles of sound science, transparency, and broad stakeholder engagement. We remain committed to protecting human health and the environment while maintaining America’s important food, fiber, and biofuel production and protecting its public health and infrastructure. If we can provide additional information or answer questions useful towards meeting these goals, please know our member organizations would be happy to provide more detail.

Sincerely,

Agribusiness Association of Iowa

Agribusiness Council of Indiana

Agricultural Council of Arkansas

Agricultural Retailers Association

Alabama Agribusiness Council

Alabama Cotton Commission

Alabama Farmers Federation

Alabama Golf Course Superintendents

Association Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association

Alabama Pest Control Association

Alabama Turfgrass Association

Alabama Vegetation Management Society

Almond Alliance of California

American Chemistry Council’s Center for Biocide Chemistries

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Mosquito Control

Association American Mushroom Institute

American Seed Trade Association

American Soybean Association

American Sugarbeet Growers Association

AmericanHort

Animal Health Institute

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation

Aquatic Plant Management Society

Arizona Cotton Growers

Arizona Crop Protection Association

Arizona Farm Bureau Federation

Arizona Nursery Association

Arizona Pest Professional Organization

Arkansas Crop Protection Association

Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

Arkansas Rice Federation

Arkansas Rice Growers Association

Arkansas Soybean Association

Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Biological Products Industry Alliance

Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Bluegrass Golf Course Superintendents Association

Cactus and Pine Golf Course Superintendents Association of Arizona

California Citrus Mutual

California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association

California Farm Bureau

California Fresh Fruit Association

California Golf Course Owners Association

California Golf Course Superintendents Association

California Rice Commission

California Specialty Crops Council

Calusa Golf Course Superintendents Association

Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association

Central Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association

Central Ohio Golf Course Superintendents Association

Central Pennsylvania Golf Course Superintendents Association

Central Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association

Cherry Marketing Institute

Chicagoland Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Colorado Association of Conservation Districts

Colorado Association of Wheat Growers

Colorado Cattlemen’s Association

Colorado Farm Bureau

Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association

Colorado Pest Control Association

Colorado Potato Legislative Association

Colorado Professional Beekeepers Association

Colorado Weed Management Association

Colorado Wool Growers Association

Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Connecticut Environmental Council

Connecticut Farm Bureau Association

Connecticut Pest Control Association

Cotton and Grain Producers of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Inc.

Cotton Producers of Missouri

Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology

CropLife America

Delaware Farm Bureau

Delaware Maryland Agribusiness Association

Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association

Delta Council

Eastern Shore Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Everglades Golf Course Superintendents Association

Exotic Wildlife Association

Florida Farm Bureau

Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association

Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association

Florida Mosquito Control Association

Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association

Florida Pest Management Association

Florida West Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association

Georgia Agribusiness Council

Georgia Cotton Commission

Georgia Farm Bureau

Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association

Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation

Georgia Green Industry Association

Georgia Pest Control Association

Georgia Urban Ag Council

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Arkansas

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Cape Cod

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Central California

Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England

Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey

Golf Course Superintendents Association of New York

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California

Golf Course Superintendents Association of South Dakota

Greater Cincinnati Golf Course Superintendents Association

GreenCO

Gulf Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association

Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation

Hawaii Golf Course Superintendents Association

Heart of America Golf Course

Superintendents Association

Hi- Lo Desert Golf Course Superintendents Association

Hudson Valley Golf Course Superintendents Association

Idaho Golf Course Superintendents Association

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

Idaho-Oregon Fruit and Vegetable Association

Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association

Idaho Pest Management Association

Idaho Potato Commission Illinois Farm Bureau

Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association

Illinois Green Industry Association

Illinois Landscape Contractors Association

Illinois Pest Control Association

Illinois Soybean Growers Indiana Farm Bureau

Indiana Golf Course Superintendents Association

Indiana Soybean Alliance

Indiana Vector Control Association

Industry Task Force II on 2,4-D Research Data

Inland Empire Golf Course Superintendents Association

Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association

Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association

Iowa Soybean Association

ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association

Kansas Cotton Association

Kansas Farm Bureau

Kansas Golf Course Superintendents Association

Kansas Grain and Feed Association

Kansas Pest Control Association

Kansas Soybean Association

Kentuckiana Golf Course Superintendents Association

Kentucky Farm Bureau

Kentucky Pest Management Association

Lone Star Golf Course Superintendents Association

Long Island Golf Course Superintendents Association

Longmont Conservation District

Louisiana Cotton and Grain Association

Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

Louisiana Pest Management Association

Louisiana-Mississippi Golf Course Superintendents Association

Louisiana Rice Producer Group

Maine Golf Course Superintendents Association

Maine Landscape and Nursery Association

Maine Potato Board

Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association

Maryland State Pest Control Association

Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation

Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association

Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals

Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

Miami Valley Golf Course Superintendents Association

Michiana Golf Course Superintendents Association

Michigan Agri-Business Association

Michigan Farm Bureau

Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association

Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association

Michigan Pest Management Association

Michigan Soybean Association

Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association

Midwest Association of GCS

Minnesota Agri-Growth

Minnesota Crop Production Retailers

Minnesota Farm Bureau

Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association

Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association

Minnesota Soybean Growers

Mississippi Farm Bureau

Mississippi Rice Council

Missouri Farm Bureau

Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council

Missouri Soybean Association

Montana Agricultural Business Association

Montana Mosquito and Vector Control Association

Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California

National Agricultural Aviation Association

National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants

National Association of Landscape Professionals

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

National Association of Wheat Growers

National Barley Growers Association

National Christmas Tree Association

National Corn Growers Association

National Cotton Council

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Farmers Union

National Golf Course Owners Association of Arizona

National Onion Association

National Pest Management Association

National Potato Council

National Roadside Vegetation Management Association

National Sorghum Producers

National Sunflower Association

Nebraska Agri-Business Association

Nebraska Golf Course Superintendents Association

Nebraska Soybean Association

Nevada Farm Bureau

Nevada Golf Course Owners Association

New England Pest Management Association

New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation

New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association

New Jersey Farm Bureau

New Jersey Green Industry council

New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association

New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association

New Jersey Pest Management Association

New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau

New Mexico Pecos Valley Farmers

New Mexico Pest Management Association

New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association

New York Farm Bureau

New York Pest Management Association

New York State Agribusiness Association

New York State Flower Industries

New York State Turfgrass Association

North American Invasive Species Management Association

North Carolina Agribusiness Council

North Carolina Cotton Producers Association

North Carolina Farm Bureau

North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association

North Carolina Pest Management Association

North Carolina Potato Association

North Carolina Sod Producers Association

North Carolina Soybean Producers Association

North Central Weed Science Society

North Dakota Corn Growers Association

North Dakota Farm Bureau

North Dakota Grain Growers Association

North Dakota Soybean Growers Association

North Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association

North Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association

Northeastern Golf Course Superintendents Association

Northeastern Weed Science Society

Northern California Golf Course Superintendents Association

Northern Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association

Northwest Horticultural Council

Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control Association

Northwest Ohio Golf Course Superintendents Association

Northwestern Illinois Golf Course Superintendents Association

Northwestern Pennsylvania Golf Course Superintendents Association

Ohio AgriBusiness Association

Ohio Farm Bureau

Ohio Lawn Care Association

Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association

Ohio Pest Management Association

Ohio Professional Applicators for Responsible Regulation

Ohio Soybean Association

Ohio Sports Turf Management Association

Ohio Turfgrass Foundation

Oklahoma Cotton Council

Oklahoma Farm Bureau

Oklahoma Golf Course Superintendents Association

Oklahoma Pest Management Association

Oklahoma Soybean Association

Old Dominion Golf Course Superintendents Association

Oregon Association of Nurseries

Oregon Farm Bureau Federation

Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association

Oregon Mosquito and Vector Control Association

Oregon Pest Control Association

Oregonians for Food and Shelter

Ozark Turf Association

Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents Association

Peaks and Prairies Golf Course Superintendents Association

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau

Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association

Pennsylvania Pest Management Association

Pest Control Operators of California

Philadelphia Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.

Pocono Turfgrass Association

Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc.

RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)

Rhode Island Farm Bureau Federation

Rhode Island Golf Course Superintendents Association

Ridge Golf Course Superintendents Association

Rio Grande Golf Course Superintendents Association

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association

Rocky Mountain Sod Growers

Rolling Plains Cotton Growers

San Diego Golf Course Superintendents Association

San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton Growers Association

Seven Rivers Golf Course Superintendents Association

Shady Canyon Golf Course Superintendents Association

Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association

Society of American Florists

South Carolina Corn and Soybean Association

South Carolina Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association

South Carolina Pest Control Association

South Carolina Sod Producers Association

South Dakota Agri-Business Association

South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation

South Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association

South Texas Cotton and Grain Association

Southern California Golf Course Superintendents Association

Southern Cotton Growers, Inc.

Southern Crop Production Association

Southern Illinois Golf Course Superintendents Association

Southern Kansas Cotton Growers Cooperative

Southern Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association

Southern Nursery Association

Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association

Southern Weed Science Society

Sports Turf Managers Association

St. Lawrence Cotton Growers Association

Suncoast Golf Course Superintendents Association

Tennessee Corn Growers Association

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Tennessee Farmers Cooperative

Tennessee Pest Control Association

Tennessee Soybean Association

Texas Ag Industries Association

Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council

Texas Citrus Mutual

Texas Corn Producers Association

Texas Cotton Producers, Inc.

Texas Farm Bureau

Texas Forestry Association

Texas Grain and Feed Association

Texas Nursery and Landscape Association

Texas Poultry Federation

Texas Rice Producers Legislative Group

Texas Soybean Association

Texas Vegetable Association

Texas Vegetation Management Association

Texas Wheat Producers Association

Treasure Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association

Tree Care Industry Association

Tri-State Golf Course Superintendents Association

Turfgrass Producers International

U.S. Apple Association

U.S. Canola Association

U.S. Durum Growers Association

U.S. Hop Industry Plant Protection Committee

U.S. Rice Producers Association

United Fresh Produce Association

United Producers, Formulators and Distributors Association

USA Rice

Utah Golf Course Superintendents Association

Utah Mosquito Abatement Association

Utah Pest Management Association

Vector Disease Control International

Vermont Farm Bureau

Vermont Golf Course Superintendents Association

Virginia Agribusiness Council

Virginia Farm Bureau

Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association

Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association

Virginia Pest Management Association

Virginia Soybean Association

Virginia Turfgrass Council

Washington Association of Wheat Growers

Washington Farm Bureau

Washington Friends of Farms and Forests

Washington Mint Growers Association

Washington State Pest Management Association

Washington State Potato Commission

Washington Winegrowers Association

Weed Science Society of America

West Texas Golf Course Superintendents Association

West Virginia Farm Bureau

West Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association

West Virginia Pest Management Association

Western Agricultural Processors Association

Western Plant Health Association

Western Society of Weed Science

Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association

Wisconsin Agri-Business Association

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association

Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association

Wisconsin Pest Control Association

Wisconsin Soybean Association

Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation

Wyoming Weed and Pest Council

Date Sent:

January 10, 2022

Sender:

Coalition group

Recipient:

U.S. House of Representatives and United States Senate

Subject:

Toxic pesticides