IV

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;
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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

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) the White House directive to the Environ4 mental Protection Agency and the Department of

5 Agriculture to ensure the implementation of the
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1 amendments made by the Act should comport the

2 following 4 principles:

3 (A) Sound science in protecting public

4 health;

5 (B) Transparency;

6 (C) Reasonable Transition for agriculture;

7 and

8 (D) Consultation with the public and other

9 agencies;

10 (2) the development of risk assessment meth11 odologies, guidelines and protocols for collection of

12 data under the amendments made by the Act be

13 based on sound science and devoid of default as14 sumptions in the absence of reliable data;

15 (3) the implementation of the amendments

16 made by the Act should include transparent proc17 esses with full disclosure of decisions and be subject

18 to peer and public review;

19 (4) the Environmental Protection Agency

20 should devote sufficient resources to register new

21 pesticide products and uses to provide effective sub22 stitutes for pesticides which may be considered high

23 risk under the amendments made by the Act; and

24 (5) the Environmental Protection Agency

25 should establish ongoing means for input regarding
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1 its implementation decisions from producers, pes2 ticide users, registrants, environmental and public

3 health groups, consumers, State and local agencies,

4 Tribal governments, Members of Congress, and

5 other appropriate Federal agencies.

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