July 31, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7149 the rule because the majority Member con- (1) if the pesticide— doing everything possible to protect trolling the time will not yield for the pur- (A) is a known or suspected carcinogen for our most vulnerable people. Unfortu- pose of offering an amendment, the same re- infants or children; or nately, this bill now has come to the sult may be achieved by voting down the pre- (B) is known or suspected to harm the neu- floor with no opportunity to consider vious question on the rule . When the mo- rological or physiological development of in- tion for the previous question is defeated, fants or children; or floor amendments to make these com- control of the time passes to the Member (2) if the discharge is located in a geo- monsense improvements, and so this is who led the opposition to ordering the pre- graphic area that contains a cancer cluster. our last—really, our only—opportunity vious question. That Member, because he (b) CANCER CLUSTER DEFINED.—In this sec- to strike the right balance between then controls the time, may offer an amend- tion, the term ‘‘cancer cluster’’ means a de- supporting our local farmers and pro- ment to the rule, or yield for the purpose of fined geographic area where there is the oc- tecting our children. amendment.’’ currence of a greater than expected number Mr. Speaker, we all know that pes- In Deschler’s Procedure in the U.S. House of cancer cases among infants or children ticide exposure can lead to a variety of of Representatives, the subchapter titled over a specific time period. adverse health effects, especially for ‘‘Amending Special Rules’’ states: ‘‘a refusal The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- children. These harmful effects range to order the previous question on such a rule ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from [a special rule reported from the Committee from neurological disorders to birth de- on Rules] opens the resolution to amend- California is recognized for 5 minutes fects to certain forms of cancer. In ment and further debate.’’ (Chapter 21, sec- in support of her motion. fact, recent news reports have high- tion 21.2) Section 21.3 continues: ‘‘Upon re- Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise lighted more and more examples of po- jection of the motion for the previous ques- today to offer this final amendment to tential cancer clusters associated with tion on a resolution reported from the Com- H.R. 935. pesticide exposure. mittee on Rules, control shifts to the Mem- If this amendment is adopted, it will For example, in Highland, New York, ber leading the opposition to the previous not kill the bill or send it back to com- health officials are investigating the question, who may offer a proper amendment mittee. cases of six children who, one after an- or motion and who controls the time for de- other, were diagnosed with the same bate thereon.’’ b 1045 Clearly, the vote on the previous question form of leukemia. Local residents be- on a rule does have substantive policy impli- The House will have an opportunity lieve that environmental pollution cations. It is one of the only available tools to vote on final passage immediately may be the cause and point to the rou- for those who oppose the Republican major- after consideration of this amendment. tine pesticide sprayings in the area. ity’s agenda and allows those with alter- What the amendment will do is ensure In Kern County, California, local offi- native views the opportunity to offer an al- that our children are protected from cials are investigating over 20 cases of ternative plan. known chemical threats. childhood malignancies, including the Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back Mr. Speaker, it should come as no death of an 8-year-old boy, that may be the balance of my time, and I move the surprise that when it comes to pes- linked to pesticides in that area. previous question on the resolution. ticides, infants and children are among In Washington State, local health of- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the most vulnerable to harmful health ficials are investigating why roughly 60 question is on ordering the previous impacts. Pound for pound, children people in the Yakima area have fallen question. drink more water, eat more food, and ill, reporting difficulty breathing, skin The question was taken; and the breathe more air than adults, and, as a rashes, nausea, vomiting, and head- Speaker pro tempore announced that result, they absorb a higher concentra- aches, some of whom required emer- the ayes appeared to have it. tion of pesticides. gency hospitalization. In this instance, Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I Infants and children are also exposed State health officials suspect these demand the yeas and nays. to pesticides in unique ways because of health issues may be related to 15 dif- The yeas and nays were ordered. how they interact with the world. As ferent instances of spraying in com- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- any parent can tell you, children and mercial orchards. ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- infants crawl on the floor and on the These are just a few examples. Mr. Speaker, I represent an area of ceedings on this question will be post- grass, and they put almost everything California with a vibrant agricultural poned. into their mouths, including their economy and culture that we all treas- f hands, again, putting themselves at ure. Our farmers and their families greater risk of exposure to pesticides REDUCING REGULATORY BURDENS drink the same water as everyone else, than adults. ACT OF 2013 so they have just as much at stake in And the exposure of infants and chil- this as anyone. Pesticides are an unfor- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- dren to pesticides poses a greater risk tunate but necessary part of food pro- ant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, pro- than the same exposure would do to an duction, and our central coast farmers ceedings will now resume on H.R. 935, adult for an additional reason, and that do the best they can to navigate the which the Clerk will report by title. is because children’s internal organs rules and use these pesticides safely, The Clerk read the title of the bill. are still developing, and their bodies but there is clearly more that could MOTION TO RECOMMIT may provide less natural protection and should be done to minimize pes- Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I have a from these toxins than adults have. ticide exposure, especially when it motion to recommit at the desk. Simply put, our children are at comes to our children. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the greater risk from pesticide exposure, so My amendment targets the most gentlewoman opposed to the bill? they need greater protection, and that toxic of all pesticides, those that re- Mrs. CAPPS. I am opposed in its cur- is what my amendment would do. It search indicates are known or sus- rent form. would help reduce risk by preserving pected to cause serious health issues in The SPEAKER pro tempore. The several commonsense tools to protect infants and children. I want to be clear. Clerk will report the motion to recom- children and infants from increased ex- This amendment does not block the use mit. posure to toxic pesticides. of these pesticides or block consider- The Clerk read as follows: Mr. Speaker, I believe our farmers ation of this bill. It simply says that if Mrs. Capps moves to recommit the bill and mosquito control districts have you are a pesticide applicator, you H.R. 935 to the Committee on Transportation raised legitimate concerns about these should minimize your use of these and Infrastructure with instructions to re- regulations that need to be addressed, toxic chemicals, monitor any adverse port the same back to the House forthwith and I have supported the underlying impacts from their use, and report the with the following amendment: bill in the past because I believe the location and quantities to local per- At the end of the bill, add the following: legislative process needs to move for- mitting agencies. SEC. 4. PROTECTING INFANTS AND CHILDREN ward to find the right solution to these We may not agree on all the poten- FROM KNOWN OR SUSPECTED CAR- CINOGENS. issues. tial impacts of this bill, but surely we (a) IN GENERAL.—This Act, and the amend- However, this bill is not perfect. It can agree that protecting our Nation’s ments made by this Act, shall not apply to a takes a very broad approach that could infants and children from toxic chemi- discharge of a pesticide— be more targeted to ensure that we are cals warrants our full support. Simply VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:24 Oct 06, 2015 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD14\JUL 2014\H31JY4.REC H31JY4 vlivingston on DSKHW7XVN1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE H7150 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 31, 2014 put, that is what my amendment does. Himes Matsui Sa´ nchez, Linda Reed Scalise Tipton Hinojosa McCarthy (NY) T. Reichert Schock Turner And as a public health nurse, I strongly Holt McCollum Sanchez, Loretta Renacci Schrader Upton urge its adoption. Honda McDermott Sarbanes Ribble Schweikert Valadao Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance Horsford McGovern Schakowsky Rice (SC) Scott, Austin Wagner of my time. Hoyer McIntyre Schiff Rigell Sensenbrenner Walberg Huffman McNerney Schneider Roby Sessions Walden Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in op- Israel Meeks Schwartz Roe (TN) Shimkus Walorski position to the motion to recommit.