House Democrats Block Bill Aimed to Ease Pesticide Regulation to Combat Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes

Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) argued on the floor Tuesday for his Zika Vector Control Act, formerly known as the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, which would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from requiring permits to spray federally approved pesticides into new bodies of water.

Gibbs argued that the permit requirement is redundant, as the pesticides are already approved under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the additional permit process under the Clean Water Act is costly and burdensome.

House Democrats ultimately prevented the legislation from meeting the two-thirds majority needed for passage under a fast track measure. The bill failed 262-159.

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