Legislative Day 2000

More than 500 PCOs from throughout the United States recently traveled to Washington, D.C., not to enjoy the sights and sounds of one of America’s great cities, but to work … to work for you. While visiting Capitol Hill, PCOs lobbied their Congressmen on two key issues — proper implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) and pest management in schools.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), through its membership, is urging our elected officials to co-sponsor H.R. 1592/S. 1464, bipartisan legislation that would require EPA to base its regulatory decisions on "sound science" and "real world data." In addition, while supportive of IPM in schools, the industry is opposed to far-reaching and overly burdensome pre-notification requirements that are so often a part of pesticide use legislation. For a complete transcript of the NPMA’s position on FQPA and school pest management, log on to pctonline.com.

In commenting on Legislative Day, NPMA Executive Vice President Rob Lederer said, "The passion of the PCOs involved in this process makes a real difference. When you bring two or three, much less 30 constituents, to a politician’s office to address a particular issue, it has a huge impact. Our goal is to develop long-term relationships with elected officials, relationships that may not pay dividends this year, but will pay significant dividends in the years to come."

While NPMA and PCOs attending this event deserve the bulk of the credit for the success of Legislative Day, FMC Corporation, the lead sponsor of the two-day event, also deserves the industry’s thanks. "We know how critical it is for PCOs to play an active role in legislative affairs and we’re pleased to be able to contribute to that effort," says Don Claus, professional segment business director for the company.

FMC can take justifiable pride in the fact that it took a leadership role in the industry’s regulatory affairs before such activities became widespread, exhibiting corporate leadership at a time when the industry was in critical need of a higher public profile both internally and externally on this issue. For this they deserve the industry’s gratitude, as do the other sponsors of this year’s event — Dow AgroSciences, Zeneca Professional Products and Bayer Corporation.

So congratulations to everyone affiliated with NPMA Legislative Day 2000 — PCOs, corporate sponsors and NPMA. You are making a positive difference in the industry’s future.

The author is publisher/editor of PCT magazine and general manager of GIE Media Inc.