House Bill Limits the EPA

Stop pesticide producers from gaining liability immunity.

Published July 15, 2025.

A new federal bill will block the EPA from taking action against pesticide producers. Agrochemical companies like Bayer-Monsanto, ChemChina, BASF, and Corteva currently submit their own safety data and labels to the EPA which the EPA does not put to the test. The safety data and labels from pesticide has consistently been found to downplay risks and conflict with independent peer reviewed research. Section 453 of the Federal House Interior Appropriations bill blocks the EPA from approving a new pesticide label or updating an old label if the label changes conflict with a previous health test or carcinogenicity classification that the EPA previously approved. Since the pesticide labels that the EPA has previously approved were company submitted and don’t mention the cancer or chronic disease risks, the EPA can therefore never update or require new labels that highlight these risks. As a result, the EPA cannot update labels if new or existing research indicates that herbicides like glyphosate cause cancer, neonics cause birth defects, or paraquat causes Parkinsons.

The section also prevents the EPA from being able to litigate or take regulatory action against companies that commit fraud on their labels. The language in the clause would also give agrochemical companies liability immunity from lawsuits alleging that they didn’t warn people of the risk to health, property, and crops. The Federal House Interior Appropriations bill was introduced by Idaho congressman Mike Simpson who received $10,000 in lobbying from the pesticide producer BASF. The bill passed the subcommittee today with a vote of 8-5 and will next be voted on by the House Appropriations Committee.

The goal of the call to action is removing Section 453 from the Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill. Here are talking points for speaking with House Appropriation Committee Members about Section 453 of the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies Appropriations Bill.

1). Pesticide producers have consistently misrepresented, downplayed, and withheld data on the carcinogenic and reproductive harms of their chemicals. The EPA should be able to update pesticide labels as new data suggests the damaging health, property, and crop risks of pesticides.

2. The EPA should be able to regulate and hold pesticide companies accountable. Stripping these rights endangers farm workers, gardeners, landscapers, school children, and all Americans.

3. Giving liability immunity to pesticide producers endangers Americans and takes away the only way we can take action against them.

Link to House Appropriation Members.

Majority Committee Members (Republican).
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL-4) (202) 225-4876
Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO-4) (202) 225-2876
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV-2) (202) 225-6155
Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK-5) (202) 225-2132
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) (202) 225-1986
Rep. John Carter (R-TX-31) (202) 225-3864
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6) (202) 225-2542
Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA-6) (202) 225-5431
Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX-27) (202) 225-7742
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA-9) (202) 225-9893
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-4) (202) 225-6165
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-26) (202) 225-4211
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11) (202) 225-6401
Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX-6) (202) 225-2002
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-3) (202) 225-3271
Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL-18) (202) 225-1252
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) (202) 225-4511
Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS-3) (202) 225-5031
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD-1) (202) 225-5311
Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-2) (202) 225-2911
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH-14) (202) 225-5731
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY-1) (202) 225-3826
Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA-5) (202) 225-8490
Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-2) (202) 225-9730
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI-2) (202) 225-3561
Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV-2) (202) 225-2711
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4) (202) 225-5816
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14) (202) 225-2065
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY-5) (202) 225-4601
Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL-5) (202) 225-2501
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID-2) (202) 225-5531
Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL-5) (202) 225-4801
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA-22) (202) 225-4695
Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR-3) (202) 225-4301
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT-1) (202) 225-5628

Minority Committee Members (Democrat)
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA-33) (202) 225-3201
Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-2) (202) 225-3631
Rep. Ed Case (D-HI-1) (202) 225-2726
Rep. James “Jim” Clyburn (D-SC-6 (202) 225-3315
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12 (202) 225-5801
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) (202) 225-1640
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4) (202) 225-4731
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) (202) 225-3661
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) (202) 225-4831
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13) (202) 225-4365
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) (202) 225-9890
Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA-9) (202) 225-4540
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD-5) (202) 225-4131
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4) (202) 225-8699
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) (202) 225-4146
Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV-3) (202) 225-3252
Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA-49) (202) 225-3906
Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-6) (202) 225-2601
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) (202) 225-6631
Rep. Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY-25) (202) 225-3615
Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN-1) (202) 225-2461
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-3) (202) 225-3536
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) (202) 225-6116
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI-2) (202) 225-2906
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25) (202) 225-7931
Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA-35) (202) 225-6161
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) (202) 225-4061
Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) (202) 225-2976

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The proposed U.S. House Farm Bill will give immunity to pesticide manufacturers from liability associated with adverse health effects or injuries from their chemicals. The bill will also remove local and state protections on pesticide application.

Congress has to vote on a new Farm Bill by Sept. 30, 2025, and there’s two sneaky provisions hidden inside the House’s proposed version to protect agrochemical companies. Section 10204 of the House Republican Farm Bill wants to give immunity to pesticide producers from liability lawsuits associated with any harm or adverse health effects caused by exposure to their chemicals. Section 10204 and 10205 would block state and local governments from passing laws about pesticides or requiring more disclosures. Over 40 states currently restrict pesticide use near schools because of the significant health risk posed by the close proximity to the pesticides. The EWG found that over 4,000 elementary schools are within 200 feet of a crop field where pesticides are sprayed. This number doesn’t include middle or high schools, private schools, parks, and playgrounds. The new farm bill would remove all active measures that protect the health and safety of schoolchildren and prevent new ones from being passed.

If you’re wondering why these provisions were included, all you need to do is follow the money. The House Agriculture Committee head Glenn Thompson received $25,000 in lobbying from three of the four largest agrochemical giants that have an oligopoly on pesticides and seeds. As of January 20th, Arkansas Senator John Boozman became the Senate Agriculture Chair. Boozman also received a staggering $47,250 from Syngenta, Bayer, and BASF. Since the heads of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee are in support of chemical manufacturers, we can expect for the new farm bill to protect them and strip protections from farm workers and school children until at least 2029.

Since the Farm Bill was extended through September, the agrochemical companies are turning their focus to state governments. The companies want one state to pass the liability immunity law, so that it becomes a precedent for other states and the federal government. If passed, this could be one of the most damaging and concerning health rollbacks ever.

It is extremely important that you contact your State and US Senators and Representatives to let them know that:

Here is a full list of US House Representatives and their contact information. Here is a full list of US Senators and their contact information.