House to debate Zika/NPDES bill
The Agricultural Retailers Association is asking members and other ag retailers to reach out to members of their state's Congressional delegation to thank those that have voted YES on HR 897 last week, and request their continued support for this legislation.
Last week's vote when HR 897 was considered under Suspension of the Rules. See the Results.
The U.S. House of Representatives will begin debate and vote on H.R. 897, the "Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015," also referred to as the "Zika Vector Control Act" later today between 4 and
6 p.m. EDT.
All House votes will occur after 6 p.m.
Click here for
background information on the benefits of HR 897 and a document
debunking myths from opponents of the bill.
Late yesterday the White House Office of Management & Budget issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) in opposition to HR 897.
The White House SAP, which stops short of issuing a veto threat,
continues to misleading information about weakening Clean Water Act protections and fails to even mention the rigorous registration and re-restriction review process for pesticides under FIFRA.
HR 897 is bipartisan, would augment state and local governments' ability to combat Zika-carrying mosquitoes, eliminate costly and unnecessary duplicative permit regulations and thereby increase the number of trained applicators deployed each season to fight mosquitoes, and would continue to ensure the nation's waterways are protected against adverse impacts on human health, the environment, or drinking water.
NOTE:
to view the vote on HR 935 held on July 31, 2014.
to view the vote on HR 872 held on March 31, 2011. Both times the legislation passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support.
The dual regulation of pesticide applications under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program is onerous and does not create additional environmental benefits.
