With the Senate’s confirmation vote on Wednesday, March 10, Michael Regan became the new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Kristin Schafer, Executive Director of Pesticide Action Network (PAN), released the following statement in response to the confirmation:
“We look forward to working with Administrator Regan to fulfill the new Administration’s public commitments to protecting communities — and particularly communities of color — from exposure to dangerous pesticides, and to holding corporations accountable for the harms of their products.
“We believe EPA has a key role to play in moving forward the Administration’s priorities of addressing racial injustice and creating climate solutions, including supporting the shift away from petrochemical-intensive agriculture. Such a shift is also critical to addressing urgent problems like biodiversity loss, crop damage from drifting pesticides, widespread human health harms, and corporate consolidation in the agricultural sector. PAN looks forward to working with Administrator Regan in our efforts to build a system of food and farming that’s healthy, resilient and just.”
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Pesticide Action Network works to create a just, thriving food system. PAN works alongside those on the frontlines of pesticide exposure — from farmworkers to rural communities to beekeepers. PAN links local and international consumer, labor, health, environment and agriculture groups into an international citizens’ action network. Together, we challenge the global proliferation of pesticides, defend basic rights to health and environmental quality, and work to ensure the transition to a just and viable food system.
