Farm to Fly Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1719
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-20T08:06:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Farm to Fly Act of 2025 aims to integrate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—a type of biofuel designed to reduce environmental impact—into U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) bioenergy programs. It seeks to boost alternative fuels for aviation, expand the overall fuel supply, promote cleaner energy, and strengthen the U.S. agricultural economy by linking farming to aviation needs. The bill supports the broader "Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge," a national goal to increase SAF production and use.
Key Provisions
- Purposes and Findings: Outlines goals to enable SAF access in USDA programs, highlight agriculture's role in SAF production, and recognize benefits like enhanced energy security, new markets for farmers, and rural economic growth. It notes SAF's potential using abundant, sustainable feedstocks (raw materials like crops or waste).
- Definitions: Updates the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to explicitly include SAF in the definition of biofuels. SAF is defined as a liquid fuel (not kerosene-based) that:
- Meets specific industry standards (ASTM International D7566 or related provisions in D1655).
- Is derived solely from biomass (plant or waste materials, as defined in tax law), without mixing with non-biomass sources.
- Excludes fuels from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum.
- Achieves at least a 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (total emissions from production to use) compared to traditional jet fuel, certified via international aviation standards or the GREET model (a tool from Argonne National Laboratory for measuring emissions).
- Farm to Fly Collaboration Initiative: Directs the USDA Secretary to coordinate across agency divisions to advance SAF, including:
- Cross-agency leadership for efficiency.
- Identifying development opportunities.
- Leveraging farmers, foresters, and rural resources.
- Promoting rural economic growth through sustainable aviation.
- Encouraging public-private partnerships to complement federal efforts.
- Biorefinery Assistance Program Updates: Expands USDA loan guarantees for biorefineries (facilities producing biofuels or biobased products) to explicitly support SAF production, adding it as a priority alongside advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act by broadening the biofuel definition to cover SAF, including it in intermediate production processes and adding a detailed SAF definition with emission and sourcing requirements.
- Inserts SAF as an explicit eligible project under the biorefinery assistance program (Section 9003), previously focused on general biofuels, diesel substitutes, and biobased products.
- Introduces a new collaboration framework within USDA, requiring integrated efforts across programs, which did not previously emphasize aviation-specific biofuels.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: USDA will need to realign resources for SAF-focused initiatives, potentially increasing coordination and funding for bioenergy programs, which could strain budgets but enhance clean energy goals.
- Citizens: Farmers and rural communities may gain new income from SAF feedstocks, boosting local economies; aviation users could benefit from more sustainable fuel options, indirectly reducing flight-related emissions.
- International Relations: Supports U.S. commitments to global aviation emission standards (e.g., via the International Civil Aviation Organization), potentially strengthening trade in biofuels and positioning the U.S. as a leader in sustainable energy, with minimal direct foreign policy effects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural Sector: Farmers, ranchers, and foresters as primary feedstock providers, gaining new revenue streams.
- Aviation Industry: Airlines and fuel producers, who can access expanded USDA support for cleaner fuels.
- USDA and Federal Agencies: Responsible for implementation, including loan programs and cross-agency collaboration.
- Rural Communities: Benefit from economic development tied to SAF markets.
- Environmental Groups and Energy Sector: Indirectly involved through emission reduction certifications and biofuel expansion.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes clear, enforceable criteria for SAF eligibility in federal programs, relying on existing standards (e.g., ASTM and GREET) to avoid ambiguity; no challenges to administrative authority, as it builds on established USDA powers.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce clause authority over agriculture and energy, promoting interstate economic activity without raising federalism issues.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan support for rural jobs and energy independence, potentially advancing national climate goals without mandating changes; could influence future farm bills by prioritizing aviation biofuels in agricultural policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Farm to Fly Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (8 pages)