Mr President for the recognition Mr President this may a spray of pesticide from a nearby orchard drifted over to a field exposing nearly 50 farm workers in California they soon became sick with nausea vomiting several were hospitalized the workers described it as a living nightmare the chemical they were exposed to is called core pira para falls falls a a neural neural toxic toxic pesticide pesticide related related to to Sarah Sarah and and gas gas it it has has been been in in use use since since it it was was developed developed by by Dow Dow chemical chemical over over 50 50 years years ago ago today today it it is is all all it it is is most most often often used used on on fruits fruits nuts nuts including including strawberry strawberry citrus citrus apples apples and and because because from from my my home home state state of of new new Mexico Mexico it it is is also also used used on on grains grains and and vegetables vegetables like like broccoli broccoli and and cauliflower cauliflower a a few few years years ago ago old body body works works also also experience experience the the effects effects of of foster foster bunny bunny is is a a farmer farmer in in Minnesota Minnesota she she was was exposed exposed when when spray spray drift drift came came into into her her home home through through the the air air conditioner conditioner her her heart heart started started racing racing almost almost to to the the point point of of cardiac cardiac arrest arrest and and she she couldn't couldn't breathe breathe at at the the hospital hospital or or nurse nurse practitioner practitioner told told her her she she wasn't wasn't surprised surprised she she had had seen seen others others with with similar similar reactions reactions about about 10 10 years years ago ago claudia claudia on on the the whole whole all all a a farm farm worker worker in in california's california's california's california's San San joaquin joaquin Valley Valley was was exposed expose to to core pair pair of of loss loss when when she she was was pregnant pregnant quality quality of of work work sorting sorting oranges oranges apples apples broccoli broccoli and and other other produce produce treated treated with with the the chemical chemical when when her her son son isaac isaac was was born born with with a a mental mental disability disability and and attention attention deficit deficit hyper hyper activity activity disorder disorder or or she she suspected suspected the the pesticide pesticide she she was was exposed exposed to to a a few few years years ago ago European European sign sign is is tested tested some some of of I I six six hair hair he he had had traces traces of of over over 50 50 pesticides pesticides in in his his body body and and the the highest highest concentration concentration was was core core para pair of fo's loss it it is is long long been been known known that that exposure exposure to to collect pure falls of oz can can be be deadly deadly but but after after years years of of study study researchers researchers in in the the United United States States and and a a number number of of other other countries countries now now believe believe there there is is a a strong strong connection connection between between pair pair of of aust aust exposure exposure and and mental mental disability disability a a the the and and memory memory deficit deficit in in children children they they believe believe the the chemical chemical damages damages children's children's developing developing brains brains even even if if they they are are exposed exposed before before birth birth latino latino children children whose who's parents parents are are exposed exposed to to the the pesticide pesticide and and new new grow grow up up near near feels feels treated treated with with it it or or at at the the greatest greatest risk risk but but this this believe believe the the pesticide pesticide proposes proposes a a threatened threatened even even to to children children exposed exposed to to it it from from produce produce from from the the grocery grocery store store or or through through drinking drinking water water the the connection connection is is so so strong strong that that scientist scientist at at the the environmental environmental protection protection agency agency recommended recommended that that the the ban ban all all uses uses of of the the pesticide pesticide in in 20 15 20 15 the the agency agency had had already already negotiated negotiated the the band band on on household household use use 15 15 years years ago ago but but this this March March epa epa administrator administrator Scott Scott pruitt pruitt ignored ignored his his own own scientist scientist and and the the body body of of scientific scientific evidence evidence that that core pair pair of of his his dangerous dangerous instead instead he he reverse reverse course course and and refused refused to to band band or or pair pair of of oss oss and and that that is is why why I I rise rise today today to to talk talk about about this this danger danger to to our our children children Mr Mr President President when when moms moms and and dads dads feed feed fruits fruits and and vegetables vegetables to to their their children children they're they're trying trying to to do do the the right right thing thing they they shouldn't shouldn't have have to to worry worry that that these these foods foods are are place place with with dangerous dangerous and and or or of of agents agents and and they they shouldn't shouldn't have have to to worry worry that that the the farm farm workers workers who who pick pick that that produce produce or or the the farmers farmers living living near near if if were were exposed exposed I've I've been been part part of of the the fight fight to to protect protect public public health health and and the the environment environment from from toxic toxic chemicals chemicals most most of of my my life life our our remember remember when when rachel rachel carson carson published published silent silent spring spring in in 19 62 19 62 my my father father store store utah utah all all was was hurt hurt champion champion when when she she was was fiercely fiercely attacked attacked by by the the chemical chemical industry industry just just over over a a year year ago ago I I led led the the bipartisan bipartisan effort effort to to reform reform the the top top the the broken broken toxic toxic substances substances control control app app I I spent spent several several years years working working to to reform reform how how the the regulates regulates chemicals chemicals fighting fighting to to stand stand up up the the incredible incredible program program that that could could be be respected respected that that could could restore restore confidence confidence in in the the on on chemical chemical safety safety so so I'm I'm very very disappointed disappointed to to have have to to do do this this to to introduce introduce a a bill bill on on a a related related matter matter pesticide pesticide regulation regulation normally normally I I would would argue argue that that Congress Congress should should stay stay out out of of the the business business of of regulating regulating individual individual chemicals chemicals that's that's why why the the was was created created to to make make fought fought full full science science based based decisions decisions on on the the issues issues that that affect affect public public health health and and the the economy economy but but in in his his first first decision decision at at the the the the administrator administrator has has shown shown his his hand hand he he did did not not respect respect the the science science not not even even his his own own scientific scientific team team and and not not even even when when the the science science is is overwhelmingly overwhelmingly decisive decisive if if the the and and this this administration administration won't won't act act to to protect protect the the public public to to protect protect children children then then Congress Congress must must I I have have studied studied the the case case for for banning banning corporate corporate fo's fo's there's there's no no question question it it needs needs to to come come off off the the market market in in this this situation situation I I believe believe that that Congress Congress must must step step in in to to protect protect children's children's health health that's that's why why I I introduce introduce to to protect protect children children farmers farmers and and farm farm workers workers from from nerve nerve agent agent pesticides pesticides act act to to do do what what administrator administrator the the administrator administrator Scott Scott pruitt pruitt refuses refuses to to do do band band tour tour para para fo's fo's now now let's let's look look at at the the reasons reasons for for banning banning corporate corporate fo's fo's and and there there are are three three very very good good once once they're they're three three reasons reasons I I believe believe this this bill bill is is necessary necessary first first administrator administrator pruitt pruitt is is wrong wrong the the sciences sciences establish establish that that fo's fo's is is a a threat threat to to health health and and its its current current use use the the study study to to and and study study the the toxicity toxicity of of corporate corporate falls falls for for over over a a decade decade I've I've talked talked to to the the scientists scientists who who have have been been studying studying up up I've I've talk talk to to signs signs have have been been studying studying for for over over 30 30 years years in in the the December December 20 14 20 14 risk risk assessment assessment the the found found false false cause cause unsafe unsafe drinking drinking water water contamination contamination based based on on that that assessment assessment the the formally formally proposed proposed in in November November 20 15 20 15 to to revoke revoke to to use use support support pair pair of of awesome awesome food food as as recently recently as as December December 20 16 20 16 reaffirmed reaffirmed its its determination determination the the pesticide pesticide is is intended intended to to act act on on the the nervous nervous system system of of insects insects but but it it can can act act on on the the human human nervous nervous system system as as well well it it can can cause cause immediate immediate symptoms symptoms like like nausea nausea vomiting vomiting convulsions convulsions respiratory respiratory paralysis paralysis as as funny funny works works and and farm farm workers workers in in California California experience experience and and in in extreme extreme cases cases it it can can kill kill but but more more worry worry some some even even low low level level exposure exposure of of pair pair of of aust aust to to developing developing fetuses fetuses and and young young children children can can interrupt interrupt the the development development processes processes of of the the nervous nervous system system exposure exposure during during gestation gestation or or childhood childhood this this link link with with lower lower birth birth way way slow slow motor motor development development and and attention attention problems problems long-lasting long-lasting effects effects on on child child brain brain development development from from in in utah utah or or exposure exposure also also include include impaired impaired perception perception reasoning reasoning and and working working memory memory and and undermined undermined intellectual intellectual development development by by 87 87 exposure exposure to to our our fast fast faith faith pesticides pesticides like like core core player player fo's fo's is is Associated Associated with with changers changers and and children's children's cognitive cognitive behavioral behavioral and and motor motor performance performance in in plain plain English English for for pure pure of of aust aust damages damages children's children's brains brains second second floor floor clear clear floor floor para para fo's fo's was was one one of of the the most most widely widely used used household household and and second second sides sides until until the the raised raised concerns concerns in in two thousand 17 two thousand 17 years years ago ago how how social social used used was was face face down down that that same same year year the the discontinue discontinue use use of of pair pair of of awesome awesome tomatoes tomatoes all all together together and and restricted restricted its its use use on on apples apples and and grapes grapes currently currently four four player player faucets faucets still still widely widely used used in in agriculture agriculture but but it's it's use use is is on on the the decline decline in in 20 12 20 12 required required no no spray spray offers offers around around school's school's homes homes play play field field stay stay care care centers centers hospitals hospitals and and other other public public places places so so growers growers are are already already working working to to find find alternatives alternatives and and the the third third reason reason scientists scientists doctors doctors advocates advocates myself myself and and many many of of our our colleagues colleagues were were shocked shocked when when administrator administrator pruitt pruitt changed changed course course on on corporate corporate core core pira pira fo's fo's in in March March shoes shoes Inc Inc to to wait wait until until 20 20 25 20 20 25 years years from from now now the the American American academy academy of of pediatrics pediatrics wrote wrote a a letter letter to to administrator administrator pruitt pruitt in in June June telling telling them them now now that that I'm I'm quoting quoting from from their their letter letter epa epa has has no no new new evidence evidence indicating indicating that that floor floor pair pair of of aust aust exposure exposure is is are are safe safe as as a a result result has has no no basis basis to to allow allow continued continued use use of of fear fear of of loss loss and and its its insistence insistence on on doing doing so so puts puts all all children children at at risk risk in in quote quote mister mister President President the the science science hasn't hasn't change change since since the the II II propose propose to to band band core core pair pair of of awesome awesome 20 15 20 15 and and 20 16 20 16 only only the the politics politics have have Mr Mr president's president's the the law law should should protect protect Americans Americans from from on on safe safe pesticides pesticides under under the the food food quality quality protection protection act act the the administrator administrator and and I I quote quote here here may may establish establish or or leave leave in in fact fact they they tolerance tolerance for for a a pesticide pesticide chemical chemical residue residue in in our our on on food food only only if if the the administrator administrator determines determines that that the the tolerance tolerance is is safe safe safe safe means means that that there there is is a a reasonable reasonable certainty certainty that that no no harm harm will will come come from from good good exposure exposure can can see see administrator administrator can't can't determine determine that that the the pesticide pesticide is is safe safe the the administrator administrator must must revoke revoke or or modify modify the the tolerance tolerance in in the the case case of of pira pira fo's fo's administrator administrator prove prove it it did did not not determine determine the the pesticide pesticide is is safe safe with with reasonable reasonable certainty certainty nor nor couldn't couldn't and and steady steady hit hit behind behind his his claim claim that that the the issue issue requires requires years years more more study study this this issue issue has has been been the the subject subject of of litigation litigation for for many many years years when when the the ask ask the the federal federal court court overseeing overseeing the the lawsuit lawsuit for for a a mere mere six six month month extension extension for for more more study study the the court court gave gave a a resolving resolving no no hit hit call call the the request request and and quoting quoting from from the the court court order order another another variation variation on on the the theme theme of of partial partial reports reports this this deadlines deadlines and and vague vague promises promises of of future future action action that that has has been been repeated repeated for for the the last last nine nine years years the the administrator administrator has has now now given given himself himself a a five five -year -year extension extension he's he's failing failing to to follow follow the the food food quality quality protection protection act act and and this this time time up up the the federal federal government government and and more more unnecessary unnecessary and and wasteful wasteful taxpayer taxpayer funded funded litigation litigation in in the the mean mean time time children children farmers farmers and and farm farm workers workers are are at at risk risk because because the the administrator administrator refuses refuses to to follow follow the the law law and and it it doesn't doesn't stop stop there there administrator administrator wants wants to to dismantle dismantle protection protection for for farm farm workers workers the the is is proposing proposing to to delay delay two two rules rules vital vital to to protecting protecting our our nation's nation's farm farm workers workers the the agriculture agriculture worker worker protection protection standard standard and and the the certificate certificate pesticide pesticide applicator applicator is is rule rule farm farm workers workers have have one one of of the the highest highest rates rates of of chemical chemical exposure exposure among among us us workers workers they they are are regularly regularly exposed exposed to to pesticides pesticides despite despite the the urgent urgent need need to to protect protect them them and and their their families families they they actually actually are are less less protected protected than than other other workers workers now now we we don't don't know know exactly exactly why why administrator administrator pruitt pruitt is is choosing choosing to to believe believe a a chemical chemical company company over over respected respected scientist scientist at at his his own own agency agency and and around around the the world world but but we we can can follow follow the the money money and and guess guess one one reason reason while while the the President President and and administrator administrator ignore ignore science science and and the the law law they they have have not not ignored ignored Dow Dow chemical chemical company company del del gave gave the the President President one million one million dollars dollars for for his his inauguration inauguration it's it's Co Co attended attended the the signing signing ceremony ceremony when when the the President President issued issued his his executive executive order order requiring requiring agencies agencies to to roll roll back back what what he he called called on on necessary necessary regulations regulations the the ceo ceo even even got got the the signing signing pam pam and and the the ceo ceo met met with with administrator administrator pruitt pruitt shortly shortly before before the the order order not not to to band band one one of of downs downs big big money money makers makers Mr Mr President President in in Ministry Ministry pruitt pruitt may may choose choose to to put put aside aside science science public public health health and and environmental environmental protection protection and and favor favor a a big big chemical chemical profits profits but but Congress Congress should should not not I I urge urge all all my my colleagues colleagues especially especially those those across across the the aisle aisle to to stand stand with with me me and and the the pass pass this this protection protection for for children children families families farmers farmers and and farm farm workers workers I I think think my my Co Co sponsors sponsors and and the the Co Co sponsors sponsors that that are are coming coming aboard aboard everyday everyday senators senators blooming blooming fall fall booker booker durban durban jill jill a a brand brand hair hair marky marky Mark Mark Lee Lee Ann Ann carden carden and and there there have have been been many many public public health health and and labor labor groups groups that that have have stood stood up up on on this this issue issue just just to to name name some some of of them them here here today today the the National National Hispanic Hispanic medical medical Association Association learning learning disabilities disabilities Association Association of of America America farm farm worker worker Justice Justice project project tender tender United United farm farm workers workers or or of of Justice Justice Green Green tea tea notes notes labor labor Council Council for for Latin Latin American American advancement advancement blue blue lack lack natural natural resources resources defense defense Council Council environmental environmental working working group group the the pesticide pesticide action action network network pm pm no no C C compass compass we we need need those those they they norte norte St St mama mama and and there there are are others others the pesticide registration information at is currently moving through Congress this gives Congress the opportunity to address floor pira fo's use and worker protection this bill is a good start for those discussions Mr President I yell the