Position Papers

2024 Position Papers

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.  Access the document here.

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, AMCA supports reauthorization of the SMASH Act and appropriations needed by the nation's vector control professionals.  Access the position paper here.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in Mosquito and Vector Control. H.R. 820, the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act, and H.R. 2864, the Countering CCP Drones Act, if enacted, will unduly restrict the use of UAS critical for public health and vector control purposes. AMCA asks that the public health mission of mosquito control agencies be taken into consideration when determining how to regulate UAS technology and address cybersecurity concerns. Access the position paper here.

The Farm Bill's Impact on Vector-borne Disease Prevention.  AMCA supports language in the 2023 Farm Bill will reauthorize the Interagency Working Group on FIFRA/ESA; support an enhanced role for USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy in federal pesticide regulation; provide pesticide preemption language preventing localities from regulating pesticides, and reduce regulatory burdens placed upon our programs nationwide. Access the position paper here.

Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act.  AMCA supports the “Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2023” (the text of which was introduced as HR 5089). This legislation will eliminate costly, duplicative, and unnecessary Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements which impact our member’s ability to adequately control mosquitoes.  Access the position paper here.

Funding for the SMASH Act and a Nationwide Database for Vector Surveillance. AMCA will ask Congress to support public health efforts by funding the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act, including a $10 Million increase in funding available for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Divisions of Vector-Borne Diseases and Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity. Access the position paper here.

 

2023 Position Papers

Overview of 2023 Legislative Issues. Access the position paper here.

Why America Needs Mosquito Control. Access the position paper here.

The 2023 Farm Bill builds upon the FIFRA Interagency Working Group to provide recommendations and develop a strategy for improving the pesticide consultation process under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to realistically assess the potential impacts of mosquito control operations on listed species.  Access the position paper here.

The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act (H.R. 345) enjoyed broad bipartisan support and will provide grants for local mosquito control programs in FY 2024 if appropriations are made by Congress.  Our efforts last year resulted in additional funding for the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases.  Our goal is to increase that funding and make it continuous. Access the position paper here.

 

2022 Position Papers

Overview of 2022 Legislative Issues. Access the position paper here.

AMCA supports the need for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to invest the time, personnel, and resources necessary to create reliable Endangered Species Act (ESA) models that reflect the fate of a pesticide’s use in a mosquito control application. Access the position paper here.

AMCA supports the use of Integrated Mosquito Management on or near cannabis, hemp, and organic farms. Access the position paper here.

AMCA supports the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in vector control programs. Access the position paper here.

AMCA's 2023 Appropriations Requests include Agriculture Appropriations Bill - Agricultural Research Service. Request for Interior Appropriations Bill - EPA; Science and Technology Account. Request for Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Account. Access the position paper here.

 

2021 Position Papers

Overview of 2022 Legislative Issues. Mosquito control professionals are responsible for protecting humans and wildlife from diseases transmitted by the world’s most dangerous animal – the mosquito. To address the growing threat to public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), five federal departments, and the Environmental Protection Agency developed a joint National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans. Access the position paper here.

Developing appropriate methods to assess the potential risk to endangered and threatened species.  The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is intended to protect and recover imperiled species and their critical habitats. However, its implementation can affect the ability of mosquito control programs to protect people and other animals, including wildlife, from mosquitoes that can adversely impact their health and welfare. Access the position paper here.

AMCA's Priority Appropriations Request. The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act (SMASH Act), included as section 607 of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019’ (P.L. 116-22) reauthorized Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resources to be used to address emerging infectious mosquito-borne disease and improve existing control programs for the protection of public health in our nation. Access the position paper here.

America Needs Mosquito Control.  In 2020 CDC Initiated a National Public Health Framework for the Control and Prevention of Vector-Borne Diseases. Why? Access the position paper here.