Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6476
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:08:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 6476: Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act
Purpose
This legislation authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program providing funding to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Indian Tribes. The grants aim to help address contamination from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals) on agricultural land and in water used for farming.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including "agricultural land" (land used for farm products, including related water and inputs), "commercial farm" (farms producing products for sale), "eligible government" (states, D.C., territories, and Indian Tribes), and "PFAS" (specific chemical structures or those meeting EPA's working definition). It also covers related terms like sludge and septage.
- Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary must create a program to award grants for specified uses. Eligibility requires agricultural land or water with PFAS levels deemed unsafe by the Secretary (in coordination with the EPA Administrator), considering state standards.
- Application and Oversight: Eligible governments apply through their agriculture departments with a spend plan detailing funding priorities and oversight. At least 30% of annual funding must go to governments with populations under 3 million.
- Allowable Uses: Grants may fund activities such as health monitoring for affected individuals, compensation for contaminated land or products (including disposal costs), investments in equipment for transitions or remediation, financial assistance and income replacement for farmers, expanded PFAS testing, research on remediation and impacts, educational programs, long-term monitoring, and marketing support for unaffected farms.
- Priorities: Eligible governments must prioritize direct aid to producers facing financial losses. The Secretary prioritizes grants for equipment investments, enterprise budget assistance, and financial support.
- Reporting Requirements: Annual reports to the Secretary and Congress must detail grant uses, additional needs, and compliance with spend plans.
- Task Force: The Secretary establishes a USDA task force to advise on incorporating PFAS into existing USDA programs, evaluate actions for enrolled farms, and provide technical assistance.
- Funding: Authorizes $500 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill creates a new standalone grant program under the Department of Agriculture specifically targeted at PFAS contamination on farms. It does not amend or repeal existing statutes but introduces new authority for federal grants, coordination with the EPA on safety determinations, and a dedicated task force.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The USDA gains new responsibilities for program administration, grant distribution, and task force operations; the EPA assists in setting unsafe PFAS thresholds for soil and water.
- Citizens: Provides financial, health, and operational support to farmers and communities dealing with PFAS exposure, potentially aiding transitions to alternative farming methods or relocation.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural producers and commercial farm owners with PFAS-contaminated land or products.
- Eligible state, territorial, and tribal governments administering the grants.
- The Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency.
- Broader agricultural communities, including those indirectly affected by public perceptions of contamination.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill requires interagency coordination between the USDA and EPA on environmental standards, which may involve shared decision-making on contamination thresholds. No explicit constitutional issues are raised. It focuses on domestic agricultural support without addressing international aspects.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (12 pages)