Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Me.) at a Political Rally in Monument Square, Portland Years Ago.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee, announced this afternoon that she has successfully stripped a provision in the FY2026 funding bill that would have shielded pesticide manufacturers like Bayer from lawsuits. Pingree has been leading the effort to remove Section 453 from her subcommittee’s funding bill since Republicans quietly included it in their draft bill earlier this summer.

“For too long, powerful chemical companies like Bayer have spent billions lobbying Congress to override the voices of states, towns and families who are simply trying to protect their health.  Despite their relentless efforts and thanks to immense public pressure, we successfully stripped the industry-backed pesticides preemption rider, Section 453, from the final Interior and Environmental funding bill,” said Pingree.

“This provision would have handed pestiide manufacturers exactly what they’ve been lobbying for:  federal preemption that stops state and local governments from restricting the use of ha rmfl, cancer-causing chemicals, adding health warnings, or holding companies accountable in court when people are harmed.  It would have meant that only the federal government gets a say — even though we know federal reviews can take years and are often subjec to intense industry pressure,” Pingree continued.  “In Maine and across the country, communities have acted responsibly to limit pesticide use near schools, homes, farms and waterways.  They shouldn’t be told by Washington — or by chemical lobbyiss — that they no longer have the right to protect their children, their land, or their livelihoods.  By removing this rider, we pushed back against Big Chemical, preserved local control and made clear that public health comes before corporate profits.  But this is not the end of the fight.  We’ll be watching closely to ensure that similar language is not included in a Farm Bill or another legislative vehicle.”

Seven states – Maine, Alaska, Hawaii, Maryland, Utah, Nevada and Vermont — do not preempt local governments from regulating pesticide use within their jurisdictions.  In Maine alone, there are more than 30 state and local regulations related to pesticide use and warming requirements that couldl have been undermined or preempted under Section 453.