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 re-
ferred 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 juris-
diction 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 en-
acted 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, particu-
larly the health and well-being of our Nation’s most valu-
able 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, afford-
able, and safe food supply, ensuring urban pest control,
and not unfairly providing competitive advantages to for-
eign food suppliers over our domestic producers;
Whereas the amendments made by the Act require the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency to develop risk assessment
methodologies based on reliable information and to un-
dertake a massive review of all approved pesticide
tolerances;
Whereas on August 4, 1997, Environmental Protection Agen-
cy 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 eco-
nomically cripple a host of agricultural commodities, in-
cluding 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 Environ-
mental Protection Agency and the Department of
Agriculture to ensure the implementation of the
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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 meth-
odologies, guidelines and protocols for collection of
data under the amendments made by the Act be
based on sound science and devoid of default as-
sumptions in the absence of reliable data;
(3) the implementation of the amendments
made by the Act should include transparent proc-
esses 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 sub-
stitutes 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
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its implementation decisions from producers, pes-
ticide users, registrants, environmental and public
health groups, consumers, State and local agencies,
Tribal governments, Members of Congress, and
other appropriate Federal agencies.
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