Research for Healthy Soils Act
Sponsored By: Representative Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
Introduced
Summary
Targets research on microplastics and PFAS in land-applied biosolids on farmland. This bill would create grant authority to study how those contaminants affect soil, crops, livestock, and water. It would also explicitly include PFAS found in structural firefighting foam and would extend related research authorizations through 2031.
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- Farmers and families: Would fund studies that measure concentration, particle size, and chemical makeup of microplastics and PFAS in biosolids and track uptake by crops and livestock to assess risks to soil and food.
- Wastewater and compost operators and researchers: Would support developing and testing techniques to filter out or biodegrade these substances and study how wastewater processing and composting change their behavior.
- Research programs and universities: Would extend high-priority research and extension initiative authorizations from 2023 to 2031, allowing more time for coordinated studies on these contaminants.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Farm research authority extended to 2031
The bill would extend the legal authority for high-priority farm research and extension initiatives from 2023 to 2031. This would keep these programs able to accept applications and make awards, if funded. It would not set new dollar amounts. Universities, extension services, and farm partners could keep using or applying for these initiatives. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Grants to study farm microplastics
The bill would let a federal farm research program give grants to study microplastics and PFAS on farmland. Work could cover biosolids or compost used on fields, including firefighting foam chemicals. Grants could fund surveys and lab tests, treatment and composting methods, and crop, livestock, and soil health studies. They could also study how these chemicals move and last on farms, and how to clean up soil and water. Researchers, extension programs, and some farmers could apply if enacted.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov