[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH PESTICIDE BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce an important 
piece of legislation that will help deal with the spread of insect, 
rodent and microbiological borne illnesses in the United States.
  In 1996, Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act which 
defined within the existing Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) the term ``public health pesticide'' to ensure 
that effective products were readily available for the public's 
protection. However, an error was made as the legislation was being 
prepared whereby this definition was unintentionally limited to ``minor 
use pesticides'' used by public health agencies and does not 
incorporate products which have traditionally been considered public 
health pesticides, such as consumer pesticide products.
  FIFRA requires the EPA to consider threats to public health in the 
registration and reregistration of public health pesticides. The 
statutory criteria used to establish ``minor use'' eliminates many 
products from being considered ``public health pesticides''. My 
legislation would correct this oversight. The effect of this technical 
correction would be to treat all public health pesticides equally. 
Specifically, the legislation would make the provisions of the FIFRA 
applicable to a broader category of beneficial products. These products 
ensure that the American public has the proper tools to protect 
themselves against disease.
  We have been hearing recently about the serious public health dangers 
of West Nile virus, but there are many insect and rodent borne 
illnesses and infectious diseases. Lyme disease, Hantavirus, 
encephalitis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, Tick 
Borne Relapsing Fever and many others threaten the health of all 
Americans. In addition, microorganisms such as E. Coli, Staphylococcus 
aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and numerous species of Salmonella, 
pathogenic mold, mildew and fungi pose serious threats to public 
health.
  With insect borne disease on the increase in the United States, it is 
vital that EPA look at the benefits in all stages of the process for 
the products that protect the public from pests that pose a threat to 
public health. Likewise, antimicrobial pesticides used against human 
pathogens are vital to public health and benefits of these products 
also should be considered by EPA.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue which is 
very important to public health in the United States and across the 
globe.

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