September 8, 2005 -- Bills Would Require Schools to Minimize Use of Pesticides

Saying “Children have the right to learn in a healthy atmosphere,” Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) are reintroducing bills that failed to pass in the last session of Congress, calling for schools to implement integrated pest management systems, minimize the use of pesticides, and inform parents and employees when they plan to use pesticides in schools. Senator Lautenberg cited a study reported in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that found pesticide exposure at school caused acute illness in school employees and students. He noted that safe alternatives to the use of dangerous pesticides exist and said his bill would “emphasize these safe alternatives.” The Senate bill, S. 1619, School Environment Protection Act of 2005, introduced September 7, can be read and tracked on website http://thomas.loc.gov.