A reminder that emails are still needed to ensure that funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs is funded at the levels required by law. At the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) request, Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) are leading an effort for the House’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget.

Please visit the Soy Action Center to email your members of Congress.  

ISSUE BACKGROUND:

• OPP is authorized in the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA), which sets timelines for the EPA to review and register pesticides as well as collect fees from registrants for products.
• Before registrants are required to pay fees, Congress is supposed to meet a minimum appropriation of $128.3 million/year.
• However, in recent years the Appropriations Committee have waived that provision and funding has been below the levels set in law, around $120 million/year.
• Because of inadequate funding, staffing at OPP has decreased significantly which can cause delays in the review, registration, and renewal of products.
• In turn, that means that producers can’t get the crop protection tools they need or may need to wait another planting season for much-needed options to deal with pest and disease problems.

ACTION NEEDED:
ASA needs all affiliate members to use the Soy Action Center to email their members of Congress today and ask that lawmakers join Rep. Yoho’s appropriations request to fund OPP at the levels mandated by Congress.