Edward M. Kennedy: “Today I am introducing the administration's Pesticide Reform Act of 1994. The unprecedented cooperation between the…”

“Today I am introducing the administration's Pesticide Reform Act of 1994. The unprecedented cooperation between the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration provides a unique opportunity for long overdue pesticide reform. I commend the commitment of the Clinton administration to deal effectively with this vital public health issue. The current Federal regulatory regime is plagued by loopholes that permit dangerous chemicals to remain on the market because of vague cost-benefit analyses and the absence of complete information about their health effects. We are gambling with public health on a broad range of potentially cancer-causing and toxic pesticides. Since 1958, the provision of federal law known as the Delaney clause has prohibited the use of pesticides that have been shown to induce cancer in animals or humans. But this so-called zero tolerance standard is more loophole than law. In some cases, chemicals in use prior the 1958 Act are permitted to remain on the market, even though current scientific knowledge would require their prohibition.”