Tom Harkin: “I am pleased to have joined Mr. Craig in offering this amendment to add the Pesticide Maintenance Fees Reauthorization…”

“I am pleased to have joined Mr. Craig in offering this amendment to add the Pesticide Maintenance Fees Reauthorization Act of 2003 to the VA-HUD appropriations bill. The authority for the Environmental Protection Agency to collect these maintenance fees for the reregistration of pesticides expired 2 years ago. Since that time, authority has been extended through riders on the VA-HUD appropriations bill. This amendment would provide a long-term authorization that has been agreed to by the Senate and House Agriculture Committees and a broad array of stakeholders, including environmental and agricultural groups. This proposal ensures that EPA continues to collect fees from the industry of an estimated $20 million per year. This will cover the costs of reevaluating chemicals first registered prior to 1984, including the cost of 200 EPA employees engaged in this important work. The EPA has no alternative but to collect these fees or sharply reduce their commitment to oversight of these chemicals. A slowdown in consideration of these applications is neither in the interest of the environment, nor of the farmers or chemical manufacturers. This is a bill that has broad support, and it is important to get this done this year, so that it is in place for next year's budget.”