At the same time that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is taking public input on impaired waterways, concerned Iowans are pushing lawmakers to fight for clean drinking water, according to a news story from Iowa News Service. In addition, a citizens’ coalition is pushing back on legislation that could give chemical makers immunity from lawsuits if their products are found to cause cancer. Dan Valentine, a longtime resident of rural Iowa, is among those asking state and federal lawmakers to protect the state’s drinking water as well as people exposed to the herbicide glyphosate in Roundup weed killer.
“My level of awareness has gone up dramatically, and really our intent is to make the general public aware of the extent of the poisoning that is going on. By herbicides, by pesticides, and by nitrates.”
Concerned Iowans are calling on Congress to reject section 453 of the House Appropriations bill, which would provide immunity to chemical makers, including Roundup manufacturer Bayer, as long as it contains an EPA approved label. While there is anecdotal evidence to the contrary all over the Midwest, the EPA has said glyphosate is not a proven carcinogen.
Last year, Iowa lawmakers rejected a so-called “immunity shield” for chemical makers whose products could be carcinogenic. But a similar measure could be approved at the federal level. Valentine says health threats from glyphosate are much more front and center than they used to be, and called it fundamentally unfair to strip people of their right to sue if the chemicals cause cancer.
“It still isn’t fair. After people are harmed or killed, it’s too late. But at least families have some opportunity to seek some measure of justice and hold these companies accountable for what they’re doing.”
The U.S. Appropriations Bill awaits action in the Senate.
