Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill Requiring EPA to Back Pesticide Approvals With Real Science Before They Reach American Plates

WASHINGTON, D.C., (August 25, 2026) - Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Scientific Oversight for Unbiased and Neutral Data in Pesticide Research Act, the SOUND Pesticide Research Act, requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to rely on four generations of toxicity data when making pesticide reproductive safety determinations.

Currently, the EPA requires only two generations of study when considering the reproductive and health consequences of certain pesticides. However, many medical professionals are concerned that only tracking two generations of health effects does not provide the EPA with enough data to make comprehensive safety determinations. This bill ensures the EPA makes safety determinations based on sufficient data by requiring studies to consult data from four generations of test species, rather than the existing two.

"When testing pesticides for harm, the EPA is rubber-stamping pesticide products left and right without consulting long-term, comprehensive safety data," said Congresswoman Mace. " This bill ensures that the EPA does its homework before putting pesticides on the menu."

The SOUND Pesticide Research Act would:

• Require the EPA to rely on data from a multigenerational reproductive toxicity study covering no fewer than four generations of test species before establishing, modifying, revoking, or leaving in effect any pesticide residue tolerance or exemption
• Direct the EPA to audit all existing pesticide residue tolerance determinations within 180 days of enactment to confirm each one meets the new standard
• Require the EPA to report to Congress within two years identifying every determination reviewed, updated, or changed as a result

"This is not complicated," Mace added. "Americans should not have to wonder whether the food they are feeding their kids is slowly poisoning them. Prove it is safe, or keep it off the market."

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