Position Papers
Each year, the American Mosquito Control Association focuses its advocacy efforts on key issues facing mosquito control, public health, and the efforts of our industry. Below you will find our current position papers on key issues impacting our industry.
AMCA's Legislative Priorities. The urgency of our mission cannot be overstated. As the nation’s mosquito control professionals, we are on the frontlines, protecting humans and wildlife from diseases transmitted by the world’s most dangerous animal – the mosquito. Download an overview document of each of our legislative priorities. Paper coming soon.
America Needs Mosquito Control. Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. They transmit a variety of pathogens to people and wildlife. To aid in our efforts to protect the public's health and welfare, America’s public sector mosquito control professionals call on Congress to reauthorize the Kay Hagan TICK Act and the SMASH Act and to provide sufficient appropriations to the CDC to support vector control activities. Position Paper coming soon.
Funding Priorities to Protect America from Mosquito and Tick-borne Diseases. Last February, The National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People was delivered to Congress, fulfilling a key requirement of the Kay Hagan Tick Act. To achieve the objectives laid out in the strategy, such as reducing the number of cases of Lyme disease and West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, the nation’s scientists and vector management professionals need the resources and infrastructure to understand what diseases are circulating where and respond accordingly. Included within this ask is a requested increase in support for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) program to support states’ work on vector-borne diseases (VBD) with $10.0 million dedicated for VectorSurv, and sustained funding to continue to support the CDC Regional Centers of Excellence on Vector-Borne Diseases (COEs) as well as the Training and Evaluation Centers (TECs). Position Paper coming soon.
The Farm Bill's Impact on Vector-borne Disease Prevention.
The draft 2024 Farm Bill reported by the House Committee on Agriculture in the 118th Congress contained several important provisions that would support our ability to respond to Vector-borne Disease threats. These provisions would reduce regulatory burdens, as well as enhance communication and cooperation between federal, state, and industry stakeholders regarding pesticide regulation, some of which were included in the working draft of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. AMCA calls on Congress to swiftly enact a Farm Bill that provides regulatory relief for pesticide users. Position Paper coming soon.
Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act. The requirement for duplicative permits under the Clean Water Act offer no environmental or public health protections, but instead add tremendous cost and bureaucracy that only serve to endanger public health. Enactment of the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2023 will undoubtedly improve public health protections in the United States. The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) urges the reintroduction and passage of the “Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act.” Position Paper coming soon.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Mosquito and Vector Control. Legislation introduced in the 118th Congress including H.R. 820, the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act, and H.R. 2864, the Countering CCP Drones Act, if enacted, will restrict the use of UAS for public health and vector control purposes. Legislation needs to effectively balance the need to maintain public safety and privacy, while allowing the use of drones to manage mosquito populations and protect the public’s health. Position Paper coming soon.
Special District Grant Accessibility Act. Despite the significance, “special district” is not formally defined in federal statute or considered a standard unit of government eligible to update or certify population and household statistics. This creates higher barriers to access direct- or pass-through federal programs intended to supplement local governments’ critical infrastructure and other essential services. AMCA calls for the reintroduction and enactment of the Special District Grant Accessibilty Act, which would define “special district” in federal law. Position Paper coming soon.
Integrated Mosquito Management on Cannabis, Hemp, and Organic Farms. Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) on or near cannabis, hemp and organic farms is lacking and requires new pesticide tolerances and approval of products for use in these growing industries. To address this urgent need, we must fund the development of more organic products that are labeled for mosquito control. Simultaneously, research needs to be conducted to develop scientific-based crop tolerances for cannabis and hemp crops. Position Paper coming soon.