Over two billion pounds of pesticides are produced each year. This huge volume of toxic chemicals dumped into the environment and our food chain is having a tremendous impact on groundwater quality and our health.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) -- the law which "controls" the use of pesticides -- must be reauthorized and strengthened. Over 60 percent of pesticides on the market have not been adequately tested for their capacity to cause cancer, genetic damage or birth defects. In addition, current law allows a dangerous chemical to stay on the market if the supposed economic benefits outweigh the risk to human health or the environment.

Because of these shortcomings, environmentalists believe it is vital that states retain the right to set stricter standards that the federal government for the amount of pesticide residue that can be left on food before going to market.

In this vote, Sen. Lugar (R-IN) sought to table (kill) Sen. Durenberger's (R-MN) amendment to strike provisions allowing federal regulations to preempt stricter, state-set standards for food pesticide residues. Motion rejected 34-45; October 6, 1986. NO is the pro-environmental vote. (Lugar Motion to table Durenberger Amendment, S. 2792, Pesticide Control Reauthorization.) The Durenberger Amendment subsequently was adopted. However, because of differences between the Senate and House versions, FIFRA was not reauthorized during the 99th Congress.