Washington, D.C. -- Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the statement below after Committee Republicans approved S. 1500, a bill to eliminate the requirement that a Clean Water Act permit is obtained for spraying dangerous pesticides into a body of water.  EPW Republicans completed the business meeting without the presence of Committee Democrats. 

 Senator Boxer said:  “S. 1500 is a far-reaching bill that is dangerous to people, and it was marked up without having a single legislative hearing on it.  This bill would allow pesticides to be sprayed where kids are swimming, which would expose them to substances that are known to be toxic.  Over 140 groups oppose legislation to exempt pesticides from the Clean Water Act.”

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