[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 290 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 290

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the fair and equitable 
 implementation of the amendments made by the Food Quality Protection 
                              Act of 1996.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 1998

  Mr. LaHood submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the 
 Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the fair and equitable 
 implementation of the amendments made by the Food Quality Protection 
                              Act of 1996.

Whereas the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (referred to in this concurrent 
        resolution as the ``Act'') was enacted with unanimous Congressional 
        approval and with the assistance and leadership of a broad coalition of 
        agricultural, industry, and public interest groups;
Whereas the amendments made by the Act are intended to be an important tool in 
        protecting public health, particularly the health and well-being of our 
        Nation's most valuable resource--our children;
Whereas it is critical that the amendments made by the Act be implemented in a 
        way that accomplishes the intent of Congress while maintaining America's 
        abundant, affordable, and safe food supply, ensuring urban pest control, 
        and not unfairly providing competitive advantages to foreign food 
        suppliers over our domestic producers;
Whereas the amendments made by the Act require the Environmental Protection 
        Agency to develop risk assessment methodologies based on reliable 
        information and to undertake a massive review of all approved pesticide 
        tolerances;
Whereas on August 4, 1997, Environmental Protection Agency published a schedule 
        for reassessment of more than 3,000 tolerances by August 3, 1999, which 
        could include certain classes of products which are extensively 
        utilized;
Whereas the sudden loss of uses and products could both economically cripple a 
        host of agricultural commodities, including corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, 
        cotton, and dozens of fruit and vegetable crops and represent a public 
        health threat to the urban environment; and
Whereas it is critical that the amendments made by the Act be implemented in a 
        fair and equitable manner, and that the protections be implemented while 
        also maintaining our plentiful and affordable food supply: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the White House directive to the Environmental 
        Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture to ensure 
        the implementation of the amendments made by the Act should 
        comport the following 4 principles:
                    (A) Sound science in protecting public health;
                    (B) Transparency;
                    (C) Reasonable Transition for agriculture; and
                    (D) Consultation with the public and other 
                agencies;
            (2) the development of risk assessment methodologies, 
        guidelines and protocols for collection of data under the 
        amendments made by the Act be based on sound science and devoid 
        of default assumptions in the absence of reliable data;
            (3) the implementation of the amendments made by the Act 
        should include transparent processes with full disclosure of 
        decisions and be subject to peer and public review;
            (4) the Environmental Protection Agency should devote 
        sufficient resources to register new pesticide products and 
        uses to provide effective substitutes for pesticides which may 
        be considered high risk under the amendments made by the Act; 
        and
            (5) the Environmental Protection Agency should establish 
        ongoing means for input regarding its implementation decisions 
        from producers, pesticide users, registrants, environmental and 
        public health groups, consumers, State and local agencies, 
        Tribal governments, Members of Congress, and other appropriate 
        Federal agencies.
                                 <all>