Tropospheric Ozone Research Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Introduced
Summary
Creates an EPA grant program to study tropospheric ozone's climate and health impacts. It funds monitoring, modeling, and research into ozone, its precursors, and effects on crops and ecosystems.
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- Researchers and labs can compete for grants. Eligible recipients include institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, and nonprofit research entities, and $10 million per year is reserved for grants in fiscal years 2027–2029.
- Farmers, forests, and public health gain targeted research on crop losses, forest and ecosystem productivity, regional and local heat stress, and health effects tied to elevated ozone.
- EPA and policymakers get expanded monitoring infrastructure, publicly available data, updated regional and global models, required international collaboration, annual reports from recipients, and a public EPA report within four years with forecasts, mitigation options, and a high-level cost-benefit assessment.
*Authorizes $10.5 million per year for 2027–2029 and $1.0 million for 2030, totaling $32.5 million in authorized appropriations.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for tropospheric ozone research
This bill would create a competitive EPA grant program to study tropospheric ozone and its climate effects. The EPA must set up the program within 90 days after money is appropriated and pick grant winners within 180 days after the program starts. Eligible recipients would include colleges, National Laboratories, and nonprofit research groups with atmospheric science expertise. The bill would authorize $10,500,000 for each of FY2027–FY2029 and $1,000,000 for FY2030. For each of FY2027–FY2029, $10,000,000 must go to grants and $500,000 for program administration, and the FY2030 $1,000,000 would fund the four-year report. Grants would fund specific research on ozone effects, modeling, crop and ecosystem impacts, and stronger monitoring systems. Data from monitoring and annual reports from grant recipients would be made publicly available, and the EPA would work with international scientists.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/19/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov