Letter
Dear Chairman Merkley, Chairwoman Pingree, Ranking Member Murkowski, and Ranking Member Joyce:
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) commends the subcommittee for its work in support of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. NASDA represents the Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of agriculture in all 50 states and 4 territories. NASDA members are co-regulators with the federal government and strong advocates for American agriculture.
As you begin the fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations process, NASDA asks you to prioritize the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG). STAG provides states with funding to implement the co-regulatory framework of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Increased funds will allow states to meet their increasing workload regarding drift complaints and implementation of new federal regulations.
NASDA supports increased funding for EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) to ensure timely registration reviews and regulatory workload management. Increased funding would provide OPP with the resources needed to meet the decision timelines under the law and ensure that OPP has adequate funding for all of its activities.
NASDA supports increased funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to meet their pesticide consultation obligations and to manage their Endangered Species Act (ESA) workloads promptly. The USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have the primary authority to protect threatened and endangered species. The ESA also requires other federal agencies to consult USFWS and NMFS when any action the agency carries out, funds, or authorizes may affect a species listed as threatened or endangered under the Act or any critical habitat designated for it. Courts have ruled that the process EPA has utilized to meet the consultation requirement to be inadequate. This has resulted in the revocation of product registrations and uses. This additional funding would allow for additional full-time employees to be used for pesticide consultations.
NASDA thanks you for your careful consideration of these requests as you work to fund the programs that enhance farmers and ranchers and ensure a safe, affordable, and abundant food supply. If you have any questions, please contact RJ Karney, senior director public policy, rj.karney@nasda.org.
Sincerely,
Ted McKinney
Chief Executive Officer
