Robert Torricelli: “I rise today to announce a landmark agreement regarding the use of pesticides in our Nation's schools. This agreement…”

“I rise today to announce a landmark agreement regarding the use of pesticides in our Nation's schools. This agreement marks the first time that the Federal Government will institute regulations on pesticides and schoolchildren. The Senate unanimously accepted my amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which passed in the Senate late last week. For the first time, parents in all fifty States will be notified when pesticides are used in schools. This agreement was reached after seven weeks of negotiations between my staff, environmental health groups, a broad coalition of pesticide, agriculture, and education groups. It was developed with these various groups to achieve a balance between the need to protect children from pests and addressing the concerns about the safety of pesticide applications. A recent study by the General Accounting Office found that no credible statistics exist regarding the amount of pesticides used in public schools and no information exists about students' exposure to pesticides or their health impacts. We can and must do a better job of providing accurate information to parents and staff at our Nation's schools regarding pesticide use and the potential effects on our children. This amendment requires local educational agencies and schools to implement a school pest management plan. This plan must incorporate pest control methods that minimize health and environmental risks in school and around schools.”