YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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- Biden Administration Abandons Longstanding Pesticide Policy
- Will California’s COVID-19 Workplace Standards Ever End?
- Card Check Bill Would Undermine Secret Ballot Elections
- California Adopts More Aggressive Water Conservation Measures
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CAWG Events: Regional Roadshow, Foundation Golf Tournament, Smoke Summit on June 6
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Biden Administration Abandons Longstanding Pesticide Policy |
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This morning, at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) asked U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack if the Department of Justice (DOJ) had consulted with USDA regarding its position on a federal court case concerning the ability of states to require certain statements on pesticide labels. Secretary Vilsack said the DOJ had not consulted with USDA.
At issue is whether the Supreme Court will take up a lower court's decision concerning the state of California’s requirement that a cancer warning appear on glyphosate product labels. On May 10, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar submitted a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court advising the court against hearing the case. In the petition, DOJ argues that federal pesticide registration and labeling requirements do not preclude states from imposing additional labeling requirements, even if those requirements run counter to federal findings. This position constitutes a dramatic reversal for federal policy.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the primary statute governing pesticides, is quite clear that “a pesticide is misbranded if its labeling bears any statement… which is false or misleading in any particular.” The U.S. Solicitor General’s brief adopts a position that permits states to mislabel glyphosate – or any pesticide – with cancer warnings despite overwhelming scientific evidence that it does not pose a cancer risk. Thousands of studies, decades of robust scientific consensus, and numerous global regulatory bodies—including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—agree the herbicide is not a carcinogen.
On May 23, 54 organizations wrote a letter to President Biden urging the Biden administration "to withdraw the brief establishing this new policy, fully considering the implications it holds for global food security, environmental sustainability, and the future of science-based regulation."
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Will California’s COVID-19 Workplace Standards Ever End? |
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Nearly 35 states have ended their COVID-19 health emergency declarations. These state-level declarations allowed governors to mandate pandemic mitigation measures. Even heavily Democratic states, like Oregon and New Jersey, are ending their emergency declarations, and most state-level emergency declarations that remain in effect are set to expire before August.
However, California chooses to go in a different direction. California’s Public Health State of Emergency is set to expire on June 30, but the state’s workplace safety COVID-19 prevention emergency standards will continue until at least December 31, 2022. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish new permanent standards, starting January 1, 2023, which would stay in effect for two years.
This analysis asserts, “The proposed regulation would significantly reduce the number COVID- 19 related illnesses, disabilities and deaths in California’s workforce.” But, the analysis later undermines that assertion by stating, “Data for the number of cases of COVID-19 infection and number of hospitalizations and deaths attributable to workplace exposure to COVID-19 is not currently available.”
While other states are moving toward policies that treat COVID-19 as an endemic virus, California appears intent on clinging to pandemic policies that burden employers with social safety net responsibilities.
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Part II: Card Check Bill Would Undermine Secret Ballot Elections |
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Last year, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 616 (Stone, D-Santa Cruz), a bill that would have given labor unions unprecedented control of elections held for the purpose of allowing employees to decide whether to be represented by a union. AB 616 would have effectively done away, through a process known as “card check,” employees’ right to vote by secret ballot. Assembly Member Stone has authored another bill, AB 2183, which is nearly identical to AB 616. CAWG opposes both bills.
When Governor Newsom vetoed AB 616, he stated, “Significant changes to California's well-defined agricultural labor laws must be carefully crafted…. Therefore, I am directing the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to work collaboratively with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and all relevant stakeholders to develop new policies for legislative consideration to address this issue.”
Rather than work collaboratively with stakeholders, as the governor encouraged, Assembly Member Stone is redoubling efforts to pass a card check bill. AB 2183 passed the Assembly this week by a 41-18 vote and will be taken up in the Senate in the weeks ahead.
Stone’s term in office ends in November, as he did not file to run for re-election.
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California Adopts More Aggressive Water Conservation Measures |
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Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement after the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency water conservation regulations today in response to the governor’s March executive order.
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Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Illness |
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Cal/OSHA reminds all employers with outdoor workers to be prepared and take the necessary precautions to prevent heat illness, as high temperatures are expected throughout the state this week. Employers in California must take steps to protect outdoor workers from heat illness by providing water, rest, shade and training.
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· CAWG Regional Roadshow - REGISTER NOW · |
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June 27 | Lodi
Woodbridge Golf & Country
800 East Woodbridge Rd, Woodbridge
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wine Social
Guest Speaker John Roncoroni, Ph.D., Weed Specialist
Only One
Meeting Left!
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THANK YOU to our Regional Roadshow Premier Sponsors! |
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Complimentary registration for all CAWG members.
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West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force Smoke Summit: June 6 |
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Join the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force (WCSETF) for their annual Smoke Summit, to be held June 6, 1 - 3:30 pm (Pacific). During this webinar leading researchers from OSU, UC Davis and WSU will present their latest findings and insights on smoke issue. Also, Tim Rinehart, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will review the efforts underway at ARS to launch a multi-million dollar research effort to address the many complicated challenges that can follow wildfire smoke events.
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CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament |
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The California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation 3rd Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, sponsored by Duarte Nursery, is scheduled for Monday, June 27 at Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. Tournament proceeds support scholarships for college age children whose parent or guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.
Tournament check-in opens at 9 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will be played as a four-person scramble format. The day will include games, a hole in one contest, and a reception with prizes, drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Following the golf tournament CAWG will host its Regional Roadshow reception at the club house, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. To register for the tournament, click here.
The 92-year-old Woodbridge Golf & Country Club is located in the heart of Lodi’s wine country and the valley’s finest wineries. The golf course features 27 distinctive holes on its three-championship course.
For information about the CAWG Foundation, please click here.
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