Tell Congress: We Need Protection from Poison Pesticides

Pesticides are everywhere: in our food, water, and air. Every community is affected by these dangerous chemicals. Children are especially at risk; they take in more pesticide per pound of body weight than adults, and their developing brains and organs are particularly vulnerable to these toxins. Farmers face high levels of exposure and evidence shows that even when they take proper safety precautions, they have elevated risks of cancer, organ damage, and other chronic conditions. These chemicals don’t stay on the farm either; they travel through the food supply chain straight to your kitchen table where they can poison our families.

Despite this, Congress is considering a measure that would make it harder, if not impossible, to hold pesticide manufacturers accountable even when their products harm people. A small clause in the Interior Appropriations Bill known as Section 453 would destroy legal frameworks used by the public to sue chemical companies when they fail to disclose the health risks of their products. Chemical companies have been sued and paid out billions of dollars for hurting people with their pesticides, but future harm to the public would go unpunished if this clause becomes law. Section 453 would also block state and local governments from taking their own measures to protect communities from pesticides.

When your child gets sick from pesticides, Section 453 ensures the companies that harmed them face zero consequences. We must ensure that companies are held accountable when their products poison the public.

Glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide in the world, was classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015. Many countries have banned or restricted it, but U.S. regulators have been slow to act. A new study even found it caused cancer in animals at doses considered “safe” by the E.U. There is scientific consensus that glyphosate can cause serious health issues, but Congress seemingly wants to make it illegal to warn the public of these dangers on product labels.

We must defend the public’s right to know and to seek justice when they are harmed by pesticides. Tell your members of Congress to oppose Section 453 and keep our communities safe from dangerous chemicals.

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