Meeting Public Comments

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

03-26-2024

Darin Luneckas []

Seems ironic and cruel to tell Iowa's ag industry soldiers the farmers and their families that deadly disease from products they were told were safe weren't important enough to protect their rights for compensation so these billion dollar companies can get richer while farmers die of cancer.Darin LuneckasPS Please vote no and push policies you run on, not just what runs your campaign account especially when it's life and death.

03-26-2024

Lowell Scott []

Iowans deserve better than to protect chemical firms from liability for dangerous products. Please VOTE NO on this bill. It died once and now Big Chem lobbyist are trying to evade funnel dates by using this committee. Protect farmers, not Big Chem!

03-26-2024

Daniel Dorman []

Please do not pass this bill. I do not think anything should have immunity for life, especially for corporations. We need to be advocating for healthier and safer environments for Iowans, not giving a pass to giant corporations, for potentially poisoning, our land and people.

03-26-2024

Dennis Van Langen []

With Iowa constituents' lives and health at great risk would you actually consider responding by granting special protection for multinational corporations from the same responsibilities we all assume, to not knowingly put others at risk? While doing nothing to help the victims? Shame on you if you pass this abomination. Is campaign money really that important to you?

03-26-2024

Allison Castle []

Vote no on this bill that would shield foreign chemical corporations from any legal action if their chemical pesticides harm or kill Iowa farmers. Researchers have been pointing to evidence linking pesticides to cancer and evidence that foreign chemical giants knew about the link and hid it. Farmers and ag workers deserve to know the truth about the risks associated with using these chemicals and have access to legal recourse when harm is caused. Please put people over profits when you consider your vote on this bill.

03-26-2024

Phil Klein []

Vote NO on this bill. Exposure to a number of the most popular pesticides, particularly glyphosate (Roundup), may cause human cancers. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Other studies have found that exposure to other common pesticides are associated with cases of nonHodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, brain, and prostate cancer. Vote NO on this bill.

03-26-2024

Rebecca Parrish-Sams []

Iowa has the fastestgrowing rate of new cancers in the nation and the secondhighest cancer rate overall. More and more research is linking pesticides to cancer. These giant, foreign chemical corporations know this. So now they want blanket immunity from legal action whenever their chemical pesticides harm or kill Iowans especially the farmers and ag workers they duped into thinking these pesticides were safe. These corporations who make billions selling harmful products should have to face an Iowa jury, just like everyone else. Please, stand up for Iowa citizens, and not these giant foreign chemical companies. VOTE NO IMMUNITY!

03-26-2024

Jon Ryk [Mr.]

I am writing in strong opposition to House Study Bill 737, which would shield foreign chemical corporations from any legal action if their chemical pesticides harm or kill Iowa farmers. Throughout the year researchers have been pointing out emerging evidence linking pesticides to cancer, evidence that foreign chemical giants knew about and hid. Des Moines oncologist Dr. Richard Deming said in a recent Cedar Rapids Gazette article about the growing body of research linking pesticides to cancer that, If you did an aerial map of Iowa, we are river to river and north to south a bath of ag chemicals: herbicides, pesticidesThe Des Moines Register recently reported that, Researchers have long suspected that exposure to a number of the most popular pesticides, particularly glyphosate (the active ingredient in the Roundup brand of herbicide), may cause human cancers. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Other studies have found that exposure to other common pesticides are associated with cases of nonHodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, brain, and prostate cancer.Also, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has reported that exposure to ChemChinas paraquat chemical raises your chances of developing Parkinsons by 500%. Use of these pesticides have become dominant in agricultural practices. Farmers and ag workers deserve to know the truth about the risks associated with using them. In many cases, farmers and ag workers would take greater precautions in applying these chemicals if the industry would be transparent about the risks.

03-26-2024

Dave Spencer [veterans advocate]

It is just not right to let foreign companies add to the destruction of our environment and health. You are in office to see to what we, the people need, not the rich corporate elitists. Vote no on this.

03-26-2024

Robert Fonder []

Iowans dont deserve to not be able to sue a chemical company when they get cancer someday from using their products. Please vote NO on this bill and dont listen to those chemical companies rehortic.

03-26-2024

Terry Lowman []

Iowa has an extremely high cancer rate and chemicals are known carcingens. Removing responsibility for torturing people with cancer and then killing them seems a bad idea. This is especially true for Bayer who made Zyclon B, used to exterminate Jews and others.

03-26-2024

Christina Gilbride []

It's ridiculous to protect corporations from things they should be held liable for. Lawmakers are supposed to fight for the people, not corporations. Keep your wallets out of it and let corporations face their responsibility. Develop safer products or face the consequences. If I steal from a store I go to jail. They kill or injure someone, they get in trouble. It's easy to choose the right thing. Now do it!

03-26-2024

Anne Salamon []

Please do not support this bill.This is another example of campaigning on one thing, then once in Des Moines, (Republican) legislators do the will of the corporations who contributed to their campaigns. Whether it's waffling on eminent domain regarding pipelines, dismantling education (which hurts small towns the most), or caving to Big Ag and meat packing companies, I don't know why rural residents continue to elect Republican legislators.

03-26-2024

Jerry Avise-Rouse [Private Citizen]

The people who are and will be condemned to death if you advance this bill are the people who support you the most, vote for you and trust you. Please vote "no" too keep that trust and do not betray them.

03-26-2024

Robert DeWitt []

Having grown up on an Iowa farm I strongly oppose HSB 737. The Des Moines Register recently reported that, Researchers have long suspected that exposure to a number of the most popular pesticides, particularly glyphosate (the active ingredient in the Roundup brand of herbicide), may cause human cancers. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Other studies have found that exposure to other common pesticides are associated with cases of nonHodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, brain, and prostate cancer.Also, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has reported that exposure to ChemChinas paraquat chemical raises your chances of developing Parkinsons by 500%.Please listen to the scientists and the medical community, and oppose this bill.

03-26-2024

David Skidmore []

I oppose House Bill 737. Why limit the liability of corporations if the pesticides they sell turn out to cause harm to farmers or consumers? We should strengthen, not weaken, the incentives for corporations to make certain that public health comes before corporate profits. The only effective way to do so is to place those profits at risk if the corporation fails to do due diligence in ensuring product safety. It is only common sense. Please side with the people over the corporations.Sincerely,David SkidmoreDes MoinesIowa

03-26-2024

Ron Riggle []

I grew up and farmed for several years and witnessed the hazards of Atrazine, Dual and several other pesticides and herbicides. Three of my neighbors have passed away due to long term exposure to using these chemicals, not to mention the unknown side effects to the crop genetics and in turn the livestock it is fed to that we consume. Companies need to be accountable for what is going on. I expect you to ensure they are held accountable.

03-26-2024

Penney Morse [United Women in Faith]

Chemical companies, foreign or domestic, should not be relieved of liability for injuries or illness caused by their chemicals. We know Iowa has some of the highest cancer rates in the country. It is not just because too many Iowans are binge drinkers. It is also because we have some of the highest exposure rates to agricultural chemicals of any state in the union. If a chemical is shown to cause harm, neither the individual harmed nor the taxpayers should be forced to foot the medical bills. Hold the corporations accountable who produce the chemicals. I do not support this bill.

03-26-2024

Michelle Javornik [Citizen]

Vote NO on HSB 737. Your job is to protect the people of this state. Why would you abdicate your sworn duty to protect by denying people the right to seek justified compensation if they have been harmed by these chemicals? You shouldnt even have to think about this.

03-26-2024

Patsy Martinson []

Come on! Highest growing cancer rate in the US. No liability for toxic effects?Iowa is awash with farm chemicals. There are other ways.Do not negate liability for damages that are linked to toxic chemicals.

03-26-2024

Ann Zerkel []

Stop House Study Bill 737. Iowans believe we still have the right to life. Bill 737 would protect corporations from legal recrimination of farmers and other living Iowans who suffer illness or death or injury due to agricultural chemicals.I'm one resident of Iowa who doesn't understand why my elected representatives would want to kill Iowans. What's in it for you?Stop House Study Bill 737.

03-26-2024

Brenda Ingram []

Please save our children and our water, and our lives. God wants us to fight for what is right. Please reconsider your previous decisions on this. I worked at Monsanto, cleaning up as a janitor...sad, while I went to college.

03-26-2024

Rhiannon Hall []

Stop representing corporations and save our grandchildren from the big polluted and poison manufactures. Iowa has very high cancer rates due to the current and past farming practiced. No immunity for corporations!

03-26-2024

Judy Parks-Kruse []

Please do not entertain furtherance of this proposed legislation! By arbitrarily limiting the legal consequences for harm to farmers and others from this category of manufactured goods it is inviting harm to users from these products. Liability limitations disincentivize making these products safe.

03-26-2024

Dennis Harbaugh []

Dear Subcommittee Members: Thanks for your service to the state of Iowa. Being a legislator is often a thankless job, so I encourage you and thank you. I'm writing to ask you to vote 'NO' on HSB 737. I grew up on a northeast Iowa dairy farm, so know a little bit about pesticides and chemicals on farms. One thing history has taught us is that the dangers of pesticides and herbicides are often not discovered until years after they've been used and applied. It happens...DDT being just one example in my lifetime. It's important that Iowa farmers and citizens have an opportunity for redress in these situations, but as you know HSB 737 would shield foreign chemical companies from future legal action even if it's proven that their product harms or kills Iowa farmers. Surely you agree this would not be fair or just. It's regrettable, but understandable, when chemical companies don't share all their research findings with the public. But when they fail to identify or publicize dangers which later become known, a legal remedy is an important option for farmers and appliers to have. Des Moines oncologist Dr. Richard Deming said in a recent Cedar Rapids Gazette article about the growing body of research linking pesticides to cancer that, If you did an aerial map of Iowa, we are river to river and north to south a bath of ag chemicals: herbicides, pesticides This is an important issue involving Iowa farmers and all Iowa residents. HSB 737 does not solve a problem. It doesn't help Iowans or Iowa farmers. The only people it helps are foreign chemical company executives. Where does your allegience lie? Please vote 'NO' on HSB 737.

03-26-2024

Kay Pence []

I lost both of my parents to cancer. Nobody could say what caused their cancers. The legislature should be investing in research to see what is causing Iowa's high cancer rates not granting immunity to pesticide companies.

03-27-2024

Benjamin Allen []

It boggles the mind that a bill protecting corporations from liability if they knowingly cause harm to farmers through chemical pesticides the corporations sell is even proposed. Please vote against this bill.

03-27-2024

Chris Whetstine []

A clearer example of prioritizing the rich and powerful over the rest of us I can't remember seeing. Shame on anyone who would consider passing such legislation, especially in a state with one of the highest rates of cancer in the nation.

03-27-2024

Howard Vlieger [Farmer]

The fact that this legislation is being brought up via a backdoor last minute fashion, CLEARLY identifies HOW CORRUPT the leadership of the Iowa legislature is in Des Moines. This legislation VIOLATES the constitutional rights of the citizens of the state of Iowa that are granted in the 7th amendment of the Bill of Rights in the US constitution. The elected officials that are advancing this legislation have clearly prostituted themselves to pharmaceutical/chemical companies. There are a vast amounts of peer reviewed and published, independent scientific studies documenting the numerous adverse health effects that glyphosate and other synthetic chemicals have on humans and animals. There is also a substantial amount of evidence that Monsanto which is now owned by Bayer, colluded with corrupted EPA officials in hiding the truth about the cancer causing effects of glyphosate herbicides.In previous subcommittee meetings on this issue, the members voting to advance this legislation have stated it is for economic reasons. That is certainly a true statement that passing this legislation will generate MASSIVE AMOUNTS of money for the chemical and pharmaceutic companies. Make people sick with known poisons and then sell the medicine to TREAT the sicknesses, NOT heal it. Any elected official voting for this legislation should ask themselves if they really want to sacrifice the health of their children and grandchildren on the altar of the chemical companies?

03-27-2024

Lindsay Maher []

Vote No on this bill that will erode the rights for Iowans to hold ANY pesticide company accountable. Under both the state and federal constitutions Iowans have the right to a trial by a jury of their peers on civil cases. This bill is a direct threat to undermine those rights. Ask the lobby and lawyers how Iowans can file a lawsuit in the future if this bill passes? What type of lawsuit can be brought? The duty to warn is the only way for a lawsuit to be brought against the company for injury other than defect in design and manufacturing. And even with bringing that type of lawsuit and preponderance of evidence must be collected before a payout is even considered. Additionally, we are a sovereign state and should not be drafting legislation that shirks our responsibilities to a federal unelected agency. An agency who the state has fought against in the past over WOTUS. Why should the state trust that the EPA is doing its job on labeling chemicals but not doing their job in WOTUS? Protect Iowans rights, not chemical companies! We dont need another pharma/chemical immunity like we already have with vaccines.

03-28-2024

Joseph Bainbridge []

Granting blanket immunity to chemical companies would be a horrible mistake. Stripping Iowans the right to seek damages when they have been hurt does not make sense. With no fear of being held responsible, chemical companies will put Iowans in greater risk of injury in the pursuit of profits.