As members or our policy email list, you are getting advance notice of a public policy effort that will be rolled out to all members next week. As you may know, working with our Allies in Congress, NPMA has championed Congressional bill H.R. 7266, which would codify federal pesticide preemption as the national standard, ensuring that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state lead agency jointly regulate pesticide usage. It would preclude localities from regulating pesticides, instead ensuring that agencies with scientific expertise are able to evaluate whether a product is safe and effective, promoting the science-based policy making NPMA has always advocated for. We believe this bill is an essential step in fixing this issue once and for all in the 2023 Farm Bill. To help make this goal a reality, NPMA is asking all US members to help us by visiting with your Congressional representatives when they are in district during August.
Participation is free and NPMA’s policy team will provide meeting handouts on preemption, talking points for visits, a webinar to prepare everyone, and how-to resources to help set up your district visits. Register here to participate in August visits. Every year, Congress adjourns for the majority of August to spend time at home to learn about the concerns of their constituents. This year, we need them to hear from our industry on how important it is to include a preemption fix in the 2023 Farm Bill. We are asking you to schedule a visit with your Representative and Senators in August and make that ask, NPMA staff can then follow up with DC staff to reinforce your talking points. To help you, NPMA has developed some exciting resources; in addition to step by step instructions for how to request and hold an in-district meeting, we will also be offering a webinar on July 20th walking through the in-district visit request process and answering any questions you may have. You can also request a one-on-one training session with a member of the Public Policy team. Register here and receive an invitation to our July 20th webinar and copies of our resources on how to set up a district visit.