H.R. 5447 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5447 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 10, 2014 Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to increase the availability of pesticides for the management of parasitic pests that adversely impact the health of managed pollinator bees, and for other purposes. 1. Expedited registration of pesticides for management of parasitic pests adversely impacting managed pollinator bee health (a) Definition of managed pollinator bee Section 2(o) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136(o)) is amended— (1) by striking The term and inserting the following: (1) In general The term ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Managed pollinator bee The term managed pollinator bee means any bee that is raised and housed in a managed hive or other appropriate housing and used for honey production, managed pollination of crops, or breeding for commercial purposes. . (b) Expedited registration of pesticides To improve managed pollinator bee health Section 3(c)(10) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136a(c)(10)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the following new clause: (v) Improve managed pollinator bee health, including managing resistance to parasitic pests. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) An application for registration or an amendment that is reasonably expected to improve the health of managed pollinator bees, including managing resistance to parasitic pests of managed pollinator bees, shall qualify for expedited review according to subparagraph (B) pursuant to the applicable decision time review period under section 33. . (c) Reports required (1) USDA report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that addresses the extent and scope of the threat to the health of managed pollinator bees from— (A) pathological factors, including the species of parasitic mite known as Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), other arthropod pests, and fungal, microbial, and viral diseases; and (B) environmental factors, including the habitat, forage, beekeeper practices and husbandry, and nutritional needs of managed pollinator bees. (2) EPA report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate that details— (A) the availability of pesticides for management of parasitic pests that adversely impact the health of managed pollinator bees, particularly including the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor); and (B) the efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to expedite approvals of new products to control parasitic pests of managed pollinator bees, including products to mitigate resistance to products currently available. (3) Definition of managed pollinator bee In this subsection, the term managed pollinator bee means any bee that is raised and housed in a managed hive or other appropriate housing and used for honey production, managed pollination of crops, or breeding for commercial purposes.