2019 Position Papers

AMCA Legislative Issues

Issue:  Mosquito control professionals are responsible for protecting humans and wildlife from diseases transmitted by the world’s most dangerous animal – the mosquito. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), improved mosquito control capability is needed to prevent the increasing emergence and spread of exotic diseases such as Zika and West Nile Virus. Learn More...

Clean Water Act NPDES Permit Impacts on Mosquito Control Programs

Issue: Public Health Pesticides registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) do not require additional regulatory oversight by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Learn More...

Endangered Species Act Considerations and Mosquito Control

Issue: Decisions on how pesticides should be used near sensitive or listed species are not being developed in a transparent, scientific manner. Learn More...

Funding Comprehensive Vector Control

Issue:   The emergence and spread of West Nile virus, Chikungunya, and Zika highlighted our nation’s insufficient preparation for responding to these threats. Our understanding of these and future diseases require support for continued research, development and evaluation of tools to combat them. Training and research for vector-borne disease surveillance and control programs must be upgraded to mitigate the future impacts of additional exotic vector-borne diseases. Learn More...

Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act of 2018 (PRIA)

Issue:  The Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act of 2018 (PRIA) established a framework for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when registering pesticides. The original intent has been to create a more predictable and effective evaluation process for affected pesticide decisions by coupling the collection of fees with specific decision review periods. Learn More...

Passing The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement Safety and Health Act (SMASH ACT)

Issue:  Enacting the SMASH Act would substantially further our nation’s values of protecting public health into the future. Subsequent appropriation of funding is also required by Congress to allocate federal resources for programs and operations authorized under the SMASH Act. Learn More...

Funding for Passing The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement Safety and Health Act (SMASH ACT)

Issue: Once the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement Safety Health Act (SMASH Act) is enacted into law, Congress must appropriate funding in support of programs for mosquito-borne and other vector-borne disease surveillance and control, as designated within the SMASH Act. Learn More...

Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)

Issue: Jurisdiction of Clean Water Act (“CWA”) under the Waters of the U.S. (“WOTUS”). Learn More...

Previously Issued POSITION PAPERS

NPDES PERMITS

Problem: Public health pesticides registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) should not require additional regulatory oversight by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Learn More... 

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT REFORM

Issue: Decisions on how mosquito control products should be used near sensitive or listed species are not being developed in a transparent manner based upon sound science. Learn More...

FEDERAL FUNDING

Issue: Training and research for vector-borne disease surveillance and control programs must be upgraded to mitigate the future impacts of additional exotic vector-borne diseases.  Learn More...

BUILD COMPREHENSIVE VECTOR PROGRAMS

Problem: Training and research for vector-borne disease surveillance and control programs must be upgraded to mitigate the future impacts of imported exotic vector-borne disease. Learn More... 

CLEAN WATER ACT NPDES PERMIT IMPACTS ON MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAMS

Issue: Public Health Pesticides registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) do not require additional regulatory oversight by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.  Learn More...

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT CONSIDERATIONS AND MOSQUITO CONTROL

Issue:Decisions on how pesticides should be used near sensitive or listed species are not being developed in a transparent manner based upon sound science. Learn More...

FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL: ADVANCE INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY

Problem: The emergence and spread of West Nile virus, Chikungunya and Zika highlighted our nation’s insufficient preparation for responding to these threats. Our understanding of these and future diseases require support for continued research and development of tools to combat them. Learn More...

Homeland Security Threat: Defending the United States from Mosquito-Transmitted Diseases

Issue: With the emergence and spread of the Zika virus in the western hemisphere on the heels of diseases such as dengue fever, West Nile virus and chikungunya, it is prudent to increase a sustainable, nationwide capacity for the surveillance and control of their mosquito vectors.  In the absence of vaccines for these diseases, vector control is the first line of defense.  Fortunately, Congress has the means readily at hand to help prevent or minimize the risk, if it chooses to devote dollars to the existing authority. Learn More...

Clean Water Act NPDES Permit Impacts on Mosquito Control Programs

Issue: Mosquito Control Programs (MCP’s) are required to have NPDES permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for mosquito control pesticide applications occurring over, near, or in waters of the US.  However, these permits are redundant, since pesticide product use has already been reviewed and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the registration and labeling process.   Furthermore, the failure to obtain or operate in accordance with a NPDES permit exposes MCPs to substantial CWA penalties, including Citizen Suit litigation. These NPDES permit requirements provide little or no environmental benefit, and can have a chilling effect on the ability of MCPs to protect the public from mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus.  Learn  More...

Endangered Species Act Considerations and Mosquito Control Programs

Issue: Decisions on how pesticides should be used near sensitive or listed species are not being developed in a transparent manner based upon sound science. Learn More...

Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grants for Mosquito-borne Disease Surveillance

Issue: Reduced federal funding is crippling the capabilities of state mosquito-borne disease monitoring and response programs. Increased federal funding is needed to address endemic mosquito-caused diseases, as well as Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen newly-emerging in the Western Hemisphere. Learn More...

Mosquito Control on Federal Lands for federal properties where mosquito control is limited or not allowed 

Issue: Federal agencies need to better accommodate mosquito control activities on their lands, as identified and performed by local mosquito control programs. Learn More...

Pollinator Protections and Mosquito Control

Issue: The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) appreciates the vital role pollinating insects, primarily European Honey Bees, play in the availability of many agricultural products and fully supports science-based efforts to ensure pollinator populations are not adversely affected by pesticide applications designed to protect public health.  Learn More...

Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Vector Control Industry 

Issue: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) – better known as drones - for use in the vector control industry provide numerous efficacies, advantages and safety. Learn More...