Background:
We must speak up to prevent a highly damaging clause in the Farm Bill draft from inclusion in the final version. Bayer has lost 70% of shareholder value since 2018, stemming primarily from the glyphosate lawsuits. Instead of admitting that glyphosate causes cancer, they are trying to prevent us from being able to sue by eliminating the ability for states and local jurisdictions to determine if a pesticide is safe or not. In legal terms, the proposed legislation would eliminate our ability to sue in state courts under “failure to warn” that a chemical could cause cancer, Parkinson’s, etc.
Bottom line, this legislation says that if the corrupt EPA says that a chemical is safe, none of us would be able to prevent its spray nor sue when we get sick.
Both the House of Representatives and Senate propose a drafted Farm Bill, and then they have to negotiate the final version together. The House draft of the Farm Bill was released in May of this year, and has the horrible suggested new law included.
You can read the House draft here – pertinent part is on page 798 and is called:
SEC. 10204. UNIFORMITY OF PESTICIDE LABELING REQUIREMENTS.
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AG/AG00/20240523/117371/HMKP-118-AG00-20240523-SD001.pdf
Instructions on how you can help:
Look up to see who your elected FEDERAL representatives are. You have one Congressperson from your local area who serves in the House of Representatives, and 2 Senators from your state who serve in the Senate.
Look up who your representatives are here:
https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/
Find the following in the list that is generated from inputting your address:
Your 2 US Senators
Your US Representative
Call their office and tell the person who answers the following:
Script to read:
Hi – I am one of your constituents.
I would like to let _________ know that I oppose the inclusion of the Uniformity of Pesticide Labeling Requirements in the Farm Bill. You can find it in section 10204 in the House draft of the Farm Bill.
I am disturbed that any elected official would support a law that would prevent me from suing a chemical manufacturer if I get sick from exposure.
I would also like to retain my rights in my state and city to regulate pesticide use as we see fit, not how the federal government dictates on behalf of the chemical corporations.
We cannot allow chemical manufacturers to enjoy a liability shield at the expense of our health and the health of the planet.
Please confirm that ___________ and his/her agricultural staffer has received this message. I am reachable at _____________.
Thank you.
Send email:
Alternatively, you could send an email with that script. Representatives have different options for contacting them online – many have a place on their website to submit comments. So go to their homepages and see how they handle written submissions.
