Cramer: Zika Vector Control Bill Helps Stop Mosquito Breeding

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer called today's passage of H.R., 897 - the Zika Vector Control Act a common sense companion bill to H.R. 5243, the Zika Response Appropriations Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week. H.R. 5243 appropriated an additional $622 million, on top of the $589 million already repurposed from unused Ebola funds, to fight against the spread of the disease.

"It is just common sense to use all tools possible to prevent the spread of what has been determined to be a dangerous virus," said Cramer. "H.R. 897 addresses onerous new regulations that have completely hamstrung mosquito control activities, the same activities that can stop mosquito breeding and the spread of the Zika virus. Mosquito control efforts are already regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its new regulations have made it extremely expensive and nearly impossible to control mosquito populations."

He said mosquito control districts from across the country, faced with already tight budgets, have warned of operational disruptions of varying degrees because of the legal issues and increased costs associated with EPA's unnecessary and duplicative permitting requirement.

"Any disruption will expose a large portion of the population to mosquitos that may potentially be carrying dangerous exotic diseases, such as Zika virus or West Nile virus," Cramer said. "Hospitalization and rehabilitation costs, loss of productivity, decrease in tourism, and demonstrably negative impacts on horse and livestock production are only a small part of the costs that, while difficult to quantify, will further strain public resources."

The bill clarifies Congressional intent regarding regulation of the use of pesticides for control of exotic diseases such as Zika virus and West Nile virus, as well as for other lawful uses in or near navigable waters. It amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit the EPA or a state from requiring a permit under the Clean Water Act for a discharge from a point source into navigable waters of a pesticide authorized for sale, distribution, or use under FIFRA, or a residue resulting from the application of the pesticide. Point source pollution is waste discharged from a distinct place, such as a pipe, channel, or tunnel.

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