A bill to extend certain compliance dates for pesticide safety training and labeling requirements.
Public Law 103-231 · S. 1913 · 103rd Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Apr 6, 1994 · Environmental Protection
Sponsor: Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Cosponsors (5): Sen. Larry Pressler, Sen. Nancy Kassebaum,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Provides that, until January 1, 1995, it shall not be a misuse to use any pesticide product in a manner inconsistent with specified Federal regulations governing worker protection and pesticide safety that are subject to a compliance date of April 15, 1994. Makes this delay in compliance inapplicable to specific worker protection requirements that appear directly on the label of the pesticide product.
Permits workers, until January 1, 1995, to enter areas treated with a pesticide product during the restricted entry interval specified on the product label to perform tasks related to the production of agricultural plants if the agricultural employer ensures that: (1) no hand labor activity is performed; (2) no entry is allowed for the first four hours following the application of the product; (3) no entry is allowed until any inhalation exposure level listed on the product labeling has been reached; and (4) the personal protective equipment specified on the product labeling for early entry is provided in clean and operating condition to the worker. Authorizes employers, for irrigation work for which the only contact with treated surfaces is to the feet, lower legs, hands, and arms, to provide coveralls and chemical resistant gloves and footwear instead of specified protective equipment.
Provides that, until January 1, 1995, crop advisors shall not be considered workers or handlers and shall not be subject to Federal regulations governing worker protection and pesticide safety requirements.
Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) develop and distribute pesticide safety training materials that convey, at a minimum, information set forth in specified Federal regulations; and (2) assist the appropriate Federal, State, and tribal agencies in implementing required pesticide safety training programs.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Apr 6, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-231.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Mar 25, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Mar 24, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
- Mar 17, 1994FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On passage Passed without objection.
- FloorFloor · Considered by unanimous consent.
- FloorFloor · Mr. de la Garza asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 10, 1994CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Agriculture Committee
- Mar 9, 1994FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.