Published November 30, 2024.

The 2024 U.S. Farm Bill will protect pesticide manufacturers over school children and health victims unless immediate action is taken by congress.

Section 10204 of the House Republican farm bill introduced in May would give immunity to pesticide producers from liability lawsuits associated with any harm or adverse health effects caused by exposure to their products. Section 10204 and 10205 would also block state and local governments from passing laws about pesticides or requiring more disclosures on pesticide labels. 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. According to the 2024 lobbying disclosures, Republican House committee head Glenn Thompson received $10,000 from Syngenta, one of the four largest agrochemical giants with an oligopoly on pesticides and seeds that’s owned by ChemChina.

Last week, Democratic U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow introduced the senate’s version of the farm bill. The senate farm bill does not protect pesticide manufacturers and it does not block state and local governments from passing laws about pesticides. Congress has until December 20th to agree to the House or Senate proposed farm bill, which looks unlikely. If they fail to agree, they will either extend the current farm bill until next year or the farm programs will no longer have funding. Both of these scenarios are bad news for America’s health and school children.

Arkansas Senator John Boozman is the current Senate agriculture ranking member. He received $20,000 from Syngenta and is in support of pesticide manufacturers. Since Republicans won the Senate, Boozman will become the senate agriculture committee chair next year. That means in 2025 the Republican Senate and House will pass a farm bill that will protect agro chemical giants and strip protections from farm workers and school children until at least 2029.

It is extremely important to contact your representatives to let them know that you do not support Section 10204 and 10205 of the house farm bill and that they need to reach a resolution on the new farm bill before December 20th.

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.