Install
Research for Healthy Soils Act
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include as a high-priority research and extension area research on microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on farmland.
- Introduced
- Committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became law
Summary
Research for Healthy Soils Act
This bill includes research on the agricultural impacts of microplastics and PFAS in land-applied biosolids or compost on farmland as a Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-priority research and extension area. Microplastic is a plastic or plastic-coated particle that is less than 5 millimeters in size. Perfluoroalky and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, are man-made and may have adverse human health effects.
The bill specifically allows grants for carrying out or enhancing research in this area (e.g., the development or analysis of techniques, including wastewater treatment and composting, to filter out or biodegrade such substances from biosolids intended to be used for agricultural purposes).
Further, the bill reauthorizes USDA grants to support competitive specialized research and extension activities, including high-priority areas, through FY2031.
The bill also specifically reauthorizes through FY2031
- the Pulse Crop Health Initiative;
- the Comprehensive Food Safety Training Network;
- pollinator protection research and extension grants;
- increased USDA capacity and infrastructure to address and conduct research on colony collapse disorder and other pollinator issues; and
- a USDA-conducted nationwide honey bee pest, pathogen, health, and population status surveillance program.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Actions
- Jun 12, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Jun 12, 2025 Introduced in House
Congressional and federal records come from official public sources: the House Clerk, the U.S. Senate, GovInfo and the Library of Congress (bill status), the Federal Register, and the congress-legislators project. They are copied on a schedule and may lag the official record by a few hours; the official sources govern. News and coverage counts are drawn from the 4Search index and reflect what the press published, not 4Search's views. Nothing here is an endorsement of any candidate, party or position. Terms of use.