Research for Healthy Soils Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2500
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-16T13:19:53Z
Official Summary
Research for Healthy Soils Act
This bill includes research on the agricultural impacts of microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland as a Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-priority research and extension area and reauthorizes other research and extension activities. Microplastic is a plastic or plastic-coated particle that is less than 5 millimeters in size.
The bill specifically allows grants for carrying out or enhancing research on microplastics (e.g., through the development or analysis of wastewater treatment techniques to filter out or biodegrade microplastics 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.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Research for Healthy Soils Act — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (3 pages)