No one wants their kids exposed to toxic cancer-causing chemicals. This includes MAHA Moms, who are conservative supporters of RFK’s “Make American Healthy Again” movement. It also includes progressive Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).
Last month the MAHA Moms and Pingree worked together to remove a clause from the farm bill. The clause would have protected pesticide producers from health-related lawsuits. If passed, it would have allowed Bayer/Monsanto the maker of glyphosate (the key ingredient in Roundup) to avoid over 65,000 lawsuits against them.
The Moms’ strategy was simple: They lobbied Congress to separate the corporate immunity clause from the farm bill. Then they forced separate votes on the issue.
The relentless activism of the MAHA Moms won the day. The Moms set aside partisan loyalties and worked with any Congress person who would listen. As MAHA Mom Kelly Ryerson said:
We’re finding our friends, and it’s like, can we get even more? I don’t care even which side they’re from.
Rep. Pingree echoed Ryerson saying:
I think my feeling has always been, if you could win on some of these important issues, then you build a coalition to win. You don’t make everything a litmus test on whether or not you’ll have a conversation.
The “MAHA Moms” is a coalition of individuals and groups who supported RFK’s Presidential campaign and his appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
As Trump continues to support corporate polluters, the Moms have stepped up their activism. Now they are threatening to break away from Trump. In response to Trump’s Executive Order to increase glyphosate production, Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America said:
Unfortunately, Trump’s action to issue this executive order on glyphosate broke a lot of (that) trust. It may be permanently broken.
Farmers spray glyphosate on grain crops including oats, barley, corn and wheat. They do it to kill the crop so it will dry more quickly and can be harvested sooner. Approximately 300 million pounds of glyphosate are applied to US crops each year—that’s almost a pound for every US citizen!
Because of its heavy use in agriculture, chemical residues have been found in foods we eat. Long term exposure to glyphosate has been linked to lymphoma, liver damage, kidney disease, endocrine disruption and neurological issues.
Glyphosate is also toxic to insects, bees and shellfish like crabs and lobster, which is why using Roundup on water adjacent properties is so deadly.
Art Cullen, in his recent book Dear Marty, We Crapped Our Nest, writes about how chemical companies have put Iowa’s farmers in debt and hollowed out once thriving communities. Herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers have depleted the soil and the farmers who depend on it.
Glyphosate and other chemicals are so ingrained (pun intended!) in agriculture that it’s hard to imagine phasing them out.
But Cullen says conservative Iowa farmers have taken notice of regenerative farming which focuses on creating healthy soils without chemicals. They are curious and beginning to experiment.
Will we eventually see agricultural chemicals phased out? I hope so. Farmers’ interest in regenerative farming is encouraging. But I know the chemical giants will do everything possible to continue the status quo.
Glyphosate producers have been relentless in their effort to preserve their “right” to make and distribute toxic products. They are pursuing every angle and every branch of government to get their way.
Defeating the corporate immunity clause was a great win for the MAHA Moms. But it is only one battle among many. Here are the latest actions in the glyphosate war:
1. The EPA
In 2015 the WHO (World Health Organization) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic”, based on numerous studies. The EPA claims it is not harmful.
2. A Trump Executive Order
President Trump recently used the Defense Production Act to justify an increase in glyphosate production. He said glyphosate is “critical to our national defense”. The real issue is that China produces 66% of the global glyphosate supply and Trump wants to increase US production.
3. Pingree’s Bill in Congress
In response to Trump’s Executive Order, Rep. Pingree (D-Maine) joined with Rep Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) to introduce the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act (H.R.7601). If passed it would nullify Trump’s order and affirm that manufacturers are not immune from civil liability.
4. A Supreme Court Case
The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in Monsanto v. Durnell, a case that will decide whether states can put cancer warning labels on toxic products. The Trump administration filed an amicus brief in support of Monsanto. (Biden sided with the states.) If the company wins it could be shielded from health-related legal claims. The case will be decided by the end of June.
5. A $7.25 billion settlement
In February Bayer offered a $7.25 billion to settle a class action lawsuit of 65,000 people who claim harm from Roundup. The settlement is intended to end the continuing lawsuits. A court hearing is scheduled for July.
Please share this post with others! Doing this will help inform the world about these important issues.
1. Stop using chemicals on your lawn!
Chemicals are entirely unnecessary for a healthy, tick-free lawn and yard. I wrote a primer on organic lawns and landscaping in a recent post. To read it click firmly HERE.
2. Thank Chellie for her work on pesticides and support The No Immunity for Glyphosate Act. To leave her a phone or email message CLICK
3. Keep up to date and informed
Support these organizations who advocate for a toxic free environment:
a. Defend Our Health: Maine-based and a national leader on eliminating PFAS and other toxics. CLICK
b. MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmer’s and Gardener’s Association) Supports organic methods and stands against toxics used in farming. CLICK
c. Toxic Free Future : Based in Seattle, a west coast and national leader for public health research and advocacy. CLICK
d. Environmental Working Group: National organization focused on product research and providing consumer guides to healthy, nontoxic products. CLICK
It’s a “field guide” to effective action. Each chapter stands alone so you can easily find the information you need. Available in paperback, ebook and audiobook wherever books are sold. Order HERE
This was a long piece and if you made to here, congratulations!
My next post will be a much shorter I promise! It will focus good new on the transition away from fossil fuels.
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