NPMA encourages pesticide preemption meetings with legislators

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is encouraging pest management professionals (PMPs) to meet with their state legislators — who will be home on summer recess in August — to discuss the importance of pesticide preemption.

The goal is to help gain support for pesticide preemption in the 2023 Farm Bill. Pesticide preemption would be guaranteed nationwide if it receives enough support from members of Congress.

A pesticide preemption bill, HR 7266, was introduced in March by U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and would ensure the uniform protection of the public’s health, food supply and property from pests. The oversight of pest control would be handled jointly by each state’s lead agency and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It would prevent localities from regulating pesticides, and instead ensure that agencies with scientific expertise are able to evaluate whether a product is safe and effective, promoting the science-based policy making for which the NPMA advocates.

The NPMA is asking its U.S. NPMA members to help promote pesticide preemption by visiting with their Congressional representatives when they will be back home in their districts after Congress adjourns in August.

To help encourage participation, the NPMA has developed resources that include step-by-step instructions on how to request and hold an in-district meeting; talking points for visits with representatives; and a webinar on July 20 that will walk attendees through the in-district visit request process and answer any questions. NPMA members also can request a one-on-one training session with a member of the association’s Public Policy team.

After meeting with their representatives, NPMA staff will follow up with the legislators’ Washington, D.C., staff to reinforce the talking points.

Register here and receive an invitation to the July 20 webinar and copies of the resources on how to set up a district visit.