Rep. Velázquez Re-introduces a Bill to Ban All Neurotoxic Pesticides

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) reintroduced the Ban All Neurotoxic Organophosphate Pesticides from Our Food Act. This straightforward piece of legislation would prohibit the use of organophosphate pesticides in food. Organophosphates are human-made chemical substances that are used on crops and have been shown to pose health risks to farmworkers and can affect children's neurodevelopment and neurological function, including by exposure before birth.

“We’ve known for decades that Organophosphate pesticides are a dangerous neurological threat to farmworkers and our children,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “These pesticides during early life have been linked to irreversible harm to the developing brain, which can result in long-term effects like attention disorders, autism, and reduced IQ. We can no longer wait to act, I'm proud to have introduced this legislation which will finally ban the use of these hazardous pesticides.”

This legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).
 
“Toxic chemicals have no business being in our food, our drinking water, or poisoning the farmworkers who put that food on our tables each day,” said Earthjustice Senior Legislative Representative Daniel Savery. “We can and must eliminate the use of organophosphates in food production. We thank Congresswoman Velazquez for her continued leadership in recognizing the need for Congress to step in and urgently act to protect workers, communities, and consumers from these dangerous toxins, particularly as the EPA continues to delay taking needed action.” 
 
“The UFW Foundation urges the EPA to ensure the protection of farmworker families who are on the frontlines of exposure to harmful insecticides,” said UFW Foundation spokesperson Daniel Larios. “Organophosphates have no place in our food. To advance environmental justice, the agency must ensure that its decisions leave no farmworker behind. To protect ALL farmworkers, the United States must ban ALL uses of this neurotoxic pesticide and we will continue to advocate to that end.”     
 
“We cannot allow any more farmworkers, especially farmworker women and their families, to be exposed to pesticides. The reproductive health of too many farmworker women have been harmed,” said Mily Trevino-Sauceda, executive director of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas. “Many have suffered complications during pregnancy. Too many children of farmworkers have been born with birth defects.”  
 
“Farmworker families across the country are struggling to raise children with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental problems due largely to their chronic exposure to agricultural organophosphate pesticides. With lack of access to necessary resources, these families struggle every day to make a living and provide for their families,” said Jeannie Economos, Pesticide Safety and Environmental Health Program Coordinator, Farmworker Association of Florida. “Not only is this an incredible injustice to the men and women whose work feeds America, it is tragic for their children’s futures. Our communities suffer. Banning OP pesticides is a public health and justice issue.” 
 
“Farmworkers cannot achieve humane working conditions without the removal of poisonous pesticides; this country is completely dependent on farmworkers to provide food for our daily meals,” said CEO of Farmworker Justice Ron Estrada. “Keeping them safe and healthy at work — as well as treating them with respect as we do all other essential workers — requires us to ban neurotoxic organophosphate pesticides.” 
 
“Farmworkers and their families have faced heavy exposure to organophosphate pesticides for far too long. Use of these dangerous pesticides must be ended,” said Anne Katten, Pesticide and Work Health and Safety Specialist, CRLA Foundation. 
 
“Farmworkers and their children, the health professionals who serve them, and others all agree, we cannot regulate away these hazards. OPs must be banned,” said Margaret Reeves, Pesticide Action Network. 
 
“We need to stop neurotoxic pesticides from poisoning the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the fruits and vegetables we eat,” said Tracy Gregoire, Healthy Children Project Director for the Learning Disabilities Association of America. “Given the science demonstrating strong links to learning disabilities and other neurological impacts, organophosphates have no place anywhere near our food.” 
 
A PDF of the bill can be found here.
 

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