PMPs Use Congressional Visits to Push for Pesticide Preemption in the 2023 Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Attendees of this year’s NPMA Legislative Day, held on Thursday, used their Capitol Hill visits to urge members of the 118th Congress to codify the role of state lead agencies as co-regulators of pesticides alongside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the 2023 Farm Bill. (Watch related video).

NPMA and other efforts have tried for many years to get pesticide preemption federally codified. Most recently, in 2022 U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) introduced pesticide preemption bill HR 7266, but that bill died when Davis lost his reelection bid.

This time around there is optimism that preemption will be included in the 2023 Farm Bill, which must be re-authorized by the end of September. Typically, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle work together to get the Farm Bill passed.

NPMA and others have long argued that pest control oversight is best handled jointly by each state’s lead agency and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Currently, 46 states have preemption. PMPs who operate in states without preemption (Alaska, Maine, Maryland and Nevada) are burdened with having to comply with different laws and regulations in each of the communities they service. Additionally, NPMA and others are concerned that states with preemption will repeal or roll back the preemption they currently have in place.

The goal of Legislative Day visits was for pest management professionals to remind their congressional representatives that codifying the exclusive role of state lead agencies as pesticide co-regulators with EPA is crucial to protecting American health, food and property from pests.

Other highlights from Legislative Day included:

• At the FMC Legislative Day luncheon, a friendly political discussion was held between conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg and NPR reporter Mara Liasson that was moderated by NPMA’s JD Darr. The pair shared their views on a variety of topics, including the upcoming 2024 Presidential election and the current state of the media. Liasson said that although a "big majority of Democratic voters" tell pollsters they wish President Joe Biden would not run again, “the Democratic Party establishment has kind of made their peace with [Biden] running again. And there's no obvious challenger.” On the Republican side, Goldberg said the upcoming primary will be rough, that “the living will envy the dead.” Former President Donald Trump’s strongest challenger for the Republican nomination is most likely Florida Sen. Ron DeSantis (although he’s not officially announced he’s running). “There are strong suspicions that Trump will not participate in the debates. So, if he doesn't participate in the debates, will Ron DeSantis not participate in the debates?” Goldberg said. So, what happens if the Republican party has debates without the first and second place people in the race? “Who will these people be who and who are they going to attack? This would be unchartered territory.”
• Chris Haggerty, part-owner of American Pest Control, Hanna, Ill., was presented with the FMC Legislative Day Award. Haggerty was recognized for his efforts to advocate for the pest control industry in Illinois and nationally. FMC’s Dan Carrothers presented the award to Haggerty, noting that he is a third-generation professional whose “family has a long tradition of giving back to the industry.” In addition to serving as Illinois’ SPAR (State Policy Affairs Representative), Haggerty spends significant time in (Illinois capitol) Springfield protecting the pest control industry from damaging legislation year after year.
• Xavier Cugnon of Arrow Exterminators was recognized as The David Cooksey PestVet of the Year. FMC’s Allan Dufoe noted that Cugnon “is a former Marine who's active in supporting his local county program for homeless veterans.” Cugnon established the Veterans Committee at Arrow Exterminators, which has resulted in numerous charitable programs, including sponsoring Christmases for local families, building handicapped accessible ramps for those in need, yard cleanup at veterans’ homes, and providing pest services for those in desperate situations.  This past January, Cugnon and the Georgia Pest Control Association collected more than 5,000 coats for veterans.
• PCT and BASF presented the 2022 Technician of the Year Awards to: Hector Avila, Arrow Exterminators, Dallas (commercial); Brian Sheppard, All-American Pest Control, Nashville, Tenn. (residential); and Ernie Esteve, Billiot Pest Control, New Orleans (termite). PCT’s Brad Harbison then presented results from a recent market study done in partnership with NPMA and with sponsorship from BASF. For this year’s survey, PCT examined 11 key issues facing PCOs, which we reported on in-depth in our January cover story.
• The Wednesday afternoon keynote speaker was journalist Major Garrett, who spoke in a session sponsored by Corteva AgriScience. Garrett said that where journalism struggles is "finding a place where we don't try to be the arbiter of what is or isn't common sense. We try to provide as much information to let you feel empowered to decide for yourself what common sense is."
• Jeff Eggers, a U.S Navy veteran who also served as a senior policy advisor, security professional, and leadership consultant, presented the Thursday keynote session sponsored by Control Solutions, Inc. Eggers, who co-authored the national best-seller “Leaders: Myth and Reality,  encouraged attendees to embrace the polarity of "confidence and humility" as leaders.
• NPMA President Justin McCauley presented Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark) with the Legislator of the Year Award for his support of pest control-related issues at today’s MGK Headquarters on the Hill luncheon at which Boozman spoke.