To amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to provide for improved coordination between the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture, and for other purposes.

Bill Summary: HR 5564 - Pesticide Coordination Act

Session: 119th Congress | Jurisdiction: United States

Status: Introduced (Referred to House Committee on Agriculture)

Overview

HR 5564 seeks to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to mandate greater coordination between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The primary intent of the bill is to ensure that the EPA considers economic impacts, agronomic data, and the availability of viable alternatives when regulating pesticides and implementing risk mitigation measures.

Key Provisions

1. Economic Analysis of Risk Mitigation

The bill requires the EPA Administrator to coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture when developing risk mitigation measures for registered pesticides. The Administrator must conduct and publish an economic analysis in the public docket that addresses:
* Direct Costs: The financial burden on growers, state lead agencies, and other affected entities (including costs related to labeling changes and new use requirements).
* Cost-Benefit Assessment: An evaluation of the costs versus the benefits of pesticide use, specifically assessing how risk mitigation measures reduce risk to the end-user.

2. Integration of Agronomic Data

To ensure regulatory decisions are based on practical agricultural realities, the bill mandates that the EPA coordinate with the USDA's Office of Pest Management Policy. The EPA must consider:
* Agronomic Use Data: Information sourced from both the USDA and the private industry.
* Alternative Viability: Data regarding whether alternative pesticides exist that are both available and economically viable.
* Transparency: The EPA must publish a description of how this USDA-provided data was used in their final decision or explain why specific data was omitted.

3. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Coordination

When implementing "reasonable and prudent" actions to protect endangered species (pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA), the EPA must coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Commerce to:
* Review the development of these measures.
* Ensure that chosen measures are consistent with established risk-benefit evaluation practices.
* Provide a feedback loop to the Interior and Commerce departments regarding how these decisions affect the end-users of the pesticides.

4. Flexibility and Waivers

The bill allows for these coordination requirements to be waived or modified for specific actions, provided that the EPA Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the pesticide registrant all agree to the modification and the agreement is published in the public docket.

Affected Parties

• The EPA: Will face stricter requirements for inter-agency coordination and mandatory economic reporting.
• The USDA: Will take a more formal role in the pesticide registration and review process.
• Agricultural Growers & Industry: Likely to see a greater emphasis on the economic feasibility and practical application of pesticide regulations.
• Regulatory Agencies: The Departments of the Interior and Commerce will be integrated into a more collaborative review process regarding pesticide impacts on endangered species.

Procedural Status

The bill was introduced on September 26, 2025, and has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture for further review.