[PCT On The Road] Dold Speech Highlights Legislative Day 2011

NPMA Legislative Day 2011 was a homecoming of sorts for one the industry’s own — Robert Dold (R-IL), who represents Illinois’ 10th Congressional District and is the former president of Rose Pest Solutions. Dold was elected last fall with the support of many pest management professionals from across the U.S. Dold gave the luncheon keynote address, sponsored by FMC Professional Solutions.

Dold ran his campaign on a pro-business platform and his first act after being sworn into Congress on Jan. 5, 2011, was co-signing H.R. 4, "The Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act." This bill fights to defeat a part of the recent health care reform law — a provision that would directly impact businesses of all sizes, but would be particularly painful for small and medium-sized businesses, which includes the majority of pest management companies throughout the country.

At Legislative Day, Dold said he’s proud to be a part of a freshman group of congressmen who are "pressuring leadership" to act pro-business and fiscally responsible. "Our job is not to create jobs, but to create an environment that allows you to create jobs," he said.

IMPORTANT ISSUES. Legislative Day attendees took to Capitol Hill to encourage their representatives to consider the industry’s position on a pair of important issues.

The first was support for H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011, which was introduced in response to a January 2009 Federal Appeals Court ruling that requires costly and burdensome Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) permits for millions of pesticide applications. This ruling would impact many pest management professionals, especially those performing mosquito and aquatic weed treatments.

Just weeks after Legislative Day, on March 31, the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 292-130, passed H.R. 872. Fifty-seven Democrats joined 235 Republicans to get to the two-thirds vote necessary to pass the bill on a House suspension calendar. The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate.

In a separate but related matter, on April 4, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas introduced legislation similar to H.R. 872 in the U.S. Senate.

The other goal for Legislative Day attendees was to encourage their representatives to support H.R. 967, the "Bed Bug Management, Prevention and Research Act of 2011." H.R. 967 was introduced by Representative Jean Schmidt (R-OH) in response to the dramatic resurgence of bed bugs in the United States in recent years. It aims to find ways to help Americans cope with this pest. Specifically, the bill initiates and directs a commonsense strategic federal response to the bed bug pandemic, including:

? Authorizing a federal bed bug research funding program to resume research that has been neglected for 50 years;

? Requiring efficacy testing for minimum risk pesticides to protect consumers from products that don’t effectively manage bed bug infestations;

? Adding "quality of life" criteria the EPA must consider when registering a public health pesticide so as to help provide professionals and consumers with safe, affordable and effective tools;

? Establishing a Bed Bug Mitigation Pilot Program to provide subsidized treatments for those on fixed and low incomes

ROVE SPEECH. Another highlight of Legislative Day was an appearance by Karl Rove, former senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush. Rove gave the afternoon keynote speech, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences. Rove expressed dismay at Congress for the problems passing a budget resolution. "Imagine if you were six months into your fiscal year and not having a blueprint for your fiscal year," he said.

The author is managing editor of PCT and can be contacted at bharbison@giemedia.com.
 

*****

Orkin Pest Control’s Chris Gorecki
Receives FMC Legislative Day Award

In a career that spans 23 years, Orkin’s Chris Gorecki has been one the pest control industry’s most active members when it comes to regulatory issues — not only at Orkin, but for NPMA, where he currently chairs NPMA’s Government Affairs Committee. For these and other contributions Gorecki, Orkin’s vice president of quality assurance, government and environmental affairs and termite claims, was presented with the annual FMC Legislative Day Award.

Gorecki’s responsibilities at Orkin include the development, implementation and auditing of procedures for termite, residential and commercial pest control services for all of the Orkin branches. He also acts as the corporate representative, expert witness and fact witness in termite litigation matters for Orkin.

Gorecki serves on the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission as well as several pest management committees.

Amy O’Shea, director, FMC Professional Solutions, presented Gorecki the award and noted that his nominator described him as "a positive influence within the Orkin organization. He is truly concerned about the company, his employees and their customers. He is an exciting executive to work with."
 

*****

Copesan Raises Over $13,000 for Pest Management Scholarships and Research

Copesan and Syngenta teamed up to raise record dollars for two nationally recognized organizations providing scholarship funds and research support to the industry.

During Copesan’s annual conference, attendees, including members of Copesan’s Partner network and pest control suppliers, generously contributed a record $6,625. Copesan matched this amount for a total donation of $13,250 to be equally divided between the Pi Chi Omega Scholarship Fund and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Foundation. Pi Chi Omega will also receive $450 raised in an auction of a unique "Arthropod of the Hour" clock featuring preserved insects on each hour of the face. The clock was created and donated by Dr. Gerry Wegner, technical director and staff entomologist, ProGuard Commercial Pest Solutions of Columbus, Ohio, a Copesan Partner.

Pi Chi Omega, a pest management professional fraternity, provides a number of $1,000 scholarships each year to deserving entomology students at universities across the country and around the world. The NPMA Pest Management Foundation has been providing grants for the research, development and refinement of pest management tools and techniques for more than 30 years. "Copesan is once again pleased to support both Pi Chi Omega and the NPMA Pest Management Foundation," said Deni Naumann, president of Copesan. "The record dollars raised reflect the excitement of our attendees and are a testament to the commitment of the Copesan network to growth in our industry. We believe strong, future leaders and scientific developments are essential to providing the best possible service to our clients now and in the years to come."

Sponsored by Syngenta, 2011 marked the tenth anniversary of the Annual Charity Raffle where the Copesan network and suppliers have donated more than $60,000 to Pi Chi Omega and to the NPMA Pest Management Foundation.
 

*****

PCT Technicians of the Year Honored

NPMA Legislative Day 2011 was an opportunity for PCT to recognize the 2010 Service Technicians of the Year. For the past 15 years PCT has recognized a trio of standout service professionals in the residential, commercial and termite categories.

This year’s winners were:

• Residential Technician of the Year — Mariano Acosta, Arrow Exterminating, Lynnbrook, N.Y.

• Commercial Technician of the Year — Jim Bailey, Orkin Pest Control, Columbus, Ohio

• Termite Technician of the Year — Todd Walker, B&B Exterminating, Jacksonville, Fla.

"PCT’s annual Technician of the Year Program is an opportunity to recognize a trio of service professionals who truly stand out," said PCT Managing Editor Brad Harbison. "These individuals go above and beyond their job description, whether it’s mentoring new service technicians, assisting with training programs or growing their routes through sales efforts."