Heinrich Statement Denouncing Supreme Court for Failing to Protect Americans’ Health & Refusing to Hold Weedkiller Manufacturers Accountable

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement denouncing the Supreme Court's decision, in Monsanto Company v. John L. Durnell, to overturn lower court verdicts that have held Monsanto liable for failing to adequately warn users of the potential cancer risks of glyphosate.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup - a widely used herbicide developed by Monsanto. Roundup is primarily used in corn, soybean, and cotton production to control weeds, where 90% of those crops are genetically engineered to be resistant to glyphosate.

This Congress, Heinrich led the introduction of the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act, legislation that aims to protect Americans' health by ensuring manufactures of glyphosate - the active ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup - can be held liable under federal and state law should the chemical be proven to cause cancer. The bill overturns President Trump's executive order that promotes the production of glyphosate and insulates manufacturers of the chemical from liability. Heinrich's bill, if enacted, would affirm that glyphosate manufacturers are not immune from civil liability - restoring the rights the Supreme Court took away with today's ruling.

"Juries across the country looked at the evidence and delivered clear verdicts: They found that exposure to glyphosate can cause cancer. Today, the Supreme Court overturned those verdicts and handed immunity to the very billion-dollar corporations putting Americans' health and safety at risk. It's infuriating," said Heinrich. "I will not stand by while President Trump and his hand-picked Supreme Court give immunity to those who put my constituents' health and safety at risk. Congress needs to pass my No Immunity for Glyphosate Act to restore real accountability and protect the health and well-being of families in New Mexico and across the country."

Specifically, the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act:

• Prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce Trump's glyphosate executive order.
• Affirms that glyphosate manufacturers are not immune from civil liability.
  • This will ensure that glyphosate manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers cannot claim immunity under the Defense Production Act, federal contractor defenses, or other federal authorities - while preserving Americans' right to pursue claims under federal and state law.

The No Immunity for Glyphosate Act is led by Heinrich and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined the senators in introducing this bill. Companion legislation is led in the House by U.S. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).

The No Immunity for Glyphosate Act is endorsed by Farm Action Fund.

The full text of the bill is here.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet