Protecting Our Health, the Environment, and our Right to Justice

Section 453 is a pending rider in the FY 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill which proposes federal policy that would grant pesticide manufacturers legal immunity from many lawsuits.  It covers over 16,000 registered pesticides, including well-known chemicals like glyphosate (Roundup) and paraquat.

This “liability shield” would make it far more difficult—or even impossible—for individuals, farmers, or communities to hold these corporations accountable in court when their products cause harm.

• If allowed to stand nationwide, Section 453 will limit the ability of farmers, families, and consumers to seek justice in court.
• Reduce incentives for companies to make safer products.
• Put pollinator populations, water supplies, and public health at greater risk.
• Pesticides have already been linked to cancer, neurological damage, birth defects, and environmental collapse. Communities across the United States have fought hard to win protections and the right to sue when corporate negligence causes harm. Section 453 undermines those rights.

 
Why This Matters

Public Health at Risk – Pesticides linked to cancer, birth defects, and neurological disorders could be harder to challenge legally, even with strong scientific evidence. 
Environmental Damage – Contamination of water, soil, and pollinator habitats could go unchecked. 
Loss of Accountability – Companies would face fewer consequences for unsafe products, reducing incentives to develop safer alternatives.   States’ Rights Undermined – Local and state protections could be overridden by federal immunity rules. 

Real-World Examples of Pesticide Harm 


• Glyphosate (Roundup) – Linked by courts to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; thousands have sued and won. Section 453 could prevent such cases.
• Chlorpyrifos – Shown to harm children’s brain development, yet still widely used until recent restrictions. 
Paraquat – Associated with Parkinson’s disease in farmworkers and rural residents. 

Who Benefits? 

Large chemical and pesticide corporations, which would save money by being immune to lawsuits, settlements, and product recalls.  Profits by poison.

Who Loses? 


• Our families, our children, our precious grandchildren and future generations 
• Farmers 

• Rural communities 

• Consumers 

• Wildlife and
• Polinators
 like honey bees

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Sign the Petition – Demand that Congress repeal or block Section 453.
2. Contact Your Representatives – find out who your House Representative is by going to ziplook.house.gov.
3. Tell them you oppose pesticide liability shields and why they should too.
4. Share This Fact Sheet – Help your neighbors, friends, and family understand the stakes.  Research the facts:  www.westonaprice.org ; www.glyphosatefacts.com ; www.pirg.org and www.michigandaily.com are just a few sources we can use to help us be informed.

THE BOTTOM LINE 
Section 453 is a dangerous policy that shields pesticide manufacturers and sacrifices public health as well as environmental safety. Our communities and our families deserve protection from our House Representatives and Senators.  Congress —should protect us, not draft policies that destroy our health and strip away our rights to justice. 

WE  THE  PEOPLE  DEMAND that Congress act immediately to repeal or block Section 453 at the federal level and ensure that no state is forced to accept a pesticide liability shield.

Public health, food safety, and environmental stewardship must ALWAYS come before corporate immunity AND ill-gotten profits.