The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the “Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011” (HR 872) March 16 by a vote of 46-8, clearing the path for the measure to be taken up by the full House of Representatives. Committee ranking member Nick Rahall (D-WV), Water Resources Subcommittee ranking member Tim Bishop (D-NY) and a majority of Democrats joined all the committee Republicans in support of the measure. The House Agriculture committee passed the bill March 9. HR 872 would clarify in law that National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits are not required for lawful applications of pesticides. RISE has been advocating for the passage of HR 872. In addition to meeting with numerous Members of Congress over the past several weeks, 501 members of our grassroots network have sent more than 1,600 letters to Congress calling for prompt passage of the legislation prior to the April 9, 2011 court-ordered deadline for permit implementation. During their meeting in Washington, D.C., this week American Association of Pesticide Control Officials members learned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service sent a letter March 1 to EPA asserting that as drafted the NPDES Pesticide General Permit will cause jeopardy to endangered species.