Bill Clinton: “I rise in strong, overwhelming support for the Boxer amendment. I agree with my friend and colleague from California…”

“I rise in strong, overwhelming support for the Boxer amendment. I agree with my friend and colleague from California that there should not be a single vote against this amendment. As was done in the House, this amendment should pass unanimously, and I hope at the end of this debate, led by the able Senator from California, that will be the conclusion of all of our colleagues, on both sides of the aisle. This debate is not about whether pesticides can be useful. Pesticide use has improved crop yields, has helped to control insect and other pests. We can all agree on that. I am sympathetic to the farmers that raised with me the concern they have about how our current system works for testing pesticides. The fact is, we ask our domestic farmers to comply with detailed pesticide requirements. We have no similar controls on overseas farmers. That is not fair. It does not keep our food as safe as it should be. That should be addressed at a later time. Let's put that aside. What we are talking about is pesticide testing. Pesticides are inherently toxic. They have been linked to a broad range of human health problems, including cancer, damage to the central nervous system, interference with neural development, and the endocrine system. Children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of pesticides.…”