Chemical companies seeking pesticide approvals from EPA have submitted data from dozens of experiments in which humans were intentionally dosed with these toxic chemicals. Many physicians, ethicists, and environmentalists, as well as many citizens, believe the testing of pesticides on humans is unethical and unscientific. EPA has twice imposed a moratorium on considering such tests, once under President Clinton and again under the current President Bush. But after litigation and other skirmishes, EPA in 2005 reversed its position.

During Senate debate over H.R. 2361, the Interior Appropriations bill, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced an amendment to create a one-year moratorium prohibiting EPA from using any of its funds to consider or conduct research that intentionally exposes humans to pesticides. On June 29, 2005, Senate Amendment 1023 was approved by a 60-37 vote (Senate roll call vote 162). YES is the pro-environment vote.

A similar measure was approved by the House in a voice vote. The House-Senate conference committee negotiated an alternative measure that places a six-month moratorium on human pesticide testing, bans tests on pregnant women and children, and orders EPA to issue strict new rules governing all such tests. This measure was enacted into law.