Eliminating Disease-Carrying Pests And Restoring Enjoyment Of The Great Outdoors

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Background and Purpose.  Ticks and mosquitoes are among the deadliest animals worldwide, transmitting major diseases that impose growing health and economic burdens on the American public.  Foreign, invasive mosquitoes, especially the Asian tiger and Egyptian mosquitoes, are multiplying across the United States and have become the dominant species in some areas, including the District of Columbia (D.C.), spreading disease and diminishing quality of life.  Furthermore, the expanding tick populations in the United States expose Americans, our pets, and our livestock to debilitating and expensive health risks.  Historical approaches have relied primarily on the use of conventional pesticides; however, the use of commonsense, non-chemical, technology-enabled measures can significantly reduce the negative effects of these pests, enhancing enjoyment of the great outdoors for all Americans.

Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to develop and deploy commonsense approaches and technological capabilities to suppress tick and mosquito populations and address the harms these insects cause, using improved detection, screening, prevention, and health care interventions.  These goals will be achieved through the following policy priorities:

(a)  Leading the world in safe and effective tick and mosquito population control to prevent disease through smart land management techniques and procedures, natural predator populations, non-chemical pest control measures, and advanced technologies, including sterile insect techniques and insect control tools developed with safe and effective biotechnologies.