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Letter warns Trump of possible fallout in midterm

elections

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MAHA movement warns of health risks from pesticides

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Bayer seeks liability shields amid Roundup litigation

By Leah Douglas

WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump

should block the U.S. House from limiting the regulation of

pesticides and "forever chemicals" in its environmental

appropriations bill or risk losing Republican support, more than

200 activists aligned with the "Make America Healthy Again"

movement said in a letter to Trump.

The letter, which also opposes liability shields for

pesticide companies, is the latest sign of tension between MAHA

backers, who elevated Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and

warn of health risks from pesticides, and the Trump

administration, which has worked to appease farm interests

concerned about a crackdown on agrochemicals.

"Mr. President, creating broad liability protections for

pesticides is a losing issue for your party and

your coalition, and may well cost you the House majority in the

midterms," said the letter, which was sent on Monday. It was

signed by leaders from Moms Across America, MAHA Action,

Children's Health, which was founded by Kennedy, and others.

The White House did not respond to a request to comment.

Trump should oppose provisions of the House of

Representatives environmental appropriations bill that would

limit pesticide regulation and prevent the Environmental

Protection Agency from implementing a draft risk assessment on

perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the synthetic

chemicals commonly called forever chemicals, said the letter.

The bill has already been approved by a key committee, but

still needs to be considered by the full House before moving

forward.

The Trump administration should also oppose liability shields

for pesticide companies against litigation alleging negative

health outcomes from the use of their products, the letter said.

Chemical company Bayer is working to pass state and

federal legislation that would shield it from some such lawsuits

as it tries to control costly litigation targeting its widely

used Roundup weed killer.

A May report from Trump's MAHA Commission, led by Kennedy,

angered the farm industry for citing pesticides as possible

health risks. In response, the White House held meetings with

farm and food groups over the summer and was expected to deliver

a second MAHA strategy report on August 12.

The report is on track to be delivered to the White House on

Tuesday and will be released to the public once officials'

schedules are coordinated, said White House spokesman Kush

Desai.