1973 Scorecard Vote
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (H.R. 8860). The vote is on the Bergland amendment to restore the Department of Labor's authority to regulate the application of pesticides to protect farm workers. The House Agriculture Committee felt that the Labor Department's safety standards were too strict, so they transferred this authority from Labor to the Agriculture Department. This guts the Occupational Health and Safety Act and gives pesticide regulation to an agency far more interested in pesticide industry profits than the plight of farm workers. According to John Stender, Assist. Sec. of Labor, irresponsible pesticide application causes about 800 deaths a year. The President supported the amendment. July 16, 1973. Adopted 221-177. Yes is the correct vote.
pro-environment position