House Republican leadership has delayed a vote on the farm bill, which includes a controversial provision that critics say will shield pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits alleging they failed to adequately warn about potential harms of their products beyond EPA standards.

House Farm Bill With Controversial Pesticide Provision Potentially Up For Vote This Week

The agriculture policy package will return to House Rules Committee and continue negotiations.

"The vote on the Farm Bill (with PRIME Act included!) is likely delayed two weeks now due to fight over E15. I look forward to voting for an amendment to strip the pesticide immunity/state labeling ban from the bill when it comes up. With public support, the amendment could pass," Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said.

POLITICO has more:

Lawmakers hope to bring the farm bill back to the floor in May after the chamber is set to take a weeklong recess.

Republican leaders faced fierce backlash from some GOP members who took issue with parts of the farm bill or were asking to add their amendments and priorities to the package. Other hard-liners fought against a plan to tack onto the farm bill a proposal to allow year-round sales of E15 fuel.

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The farm bill has not been reauthorized since 2018 and was due to be updated in 2023.

"Due to issues with E15 (fuel), the Farm Bill has been pulled from a vote this week. I have spoken with the Chair of the Rules Committee, the Speaker, Rep. Scalise, and multiple members, and we will be voting on this when we return. This means our amendment to remove pesticide liability protections will be voted on at that time," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) commented.

"I have now been accosted by two Republican members of Congress for trying to remove pesticide liability protections. Both of which claim to be 'God-fearing' Christians, but are shilling for cancer causing pesticide companies. Yikes. One even claims to be pro-life, but is cool with pesticides killing kids," she said in another post.

USA TODAY noted:

Rural lawmakers have been actively pushing to include a pro-pesticide provision in the upcoming farm bill. However, their more MAHA-oriented colleagues want no part of such an effort. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, even introduced an amendment to strip what she calls the "pesticide loophole" from the legislation.

"South Carolina farmers, families, and communities deserve better," she posted on social media.

Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Chip Roy of Texas are among the other conservatives who are openly at odds with some of their other GOP colleagues. Luna said the farm bill "must be stopped."

"I think big ag needs to be body-checked," said Roy, who stressed the importance of warning labels for potential carcinogens and noted he’s a cancer survivor himself. "That labeling issue is very real."

Several MAHA organizers told USA TODAY they've been discouraged with the state of their movement in a Republican-led Washington. Nora Kemmerer, a health care worker from northern Virginia who was donning a red MAHA hat outside the Supreme Court, wouldn't commit to voting for GOP candidates in November.

"We'll see what happens," she said. "I don't know how I'm voting as of right now . . . I'm frustrated."

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