Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act

Hozzl · 2024-05-30T04:05:13Z

Explore the details of House Bill 1517 Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Agriculture and Food. Stay informed on legislative developments.

5/30/2024, 4:05 AM

Summary of Bill HR 1517

Bill 118 hr 1517, also known as the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress aimed at providing assistance to farmers who have been affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of products, including firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, and water-repellent fabrics. These chemicals have been linked to a range of health issues, including cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system disorders.

The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act seeks to address the impact of PFAS contamination on farmers by providing financial assistance for testing and remediation efforts. The bill also includes provisions for research into the long-term effects of PFAS exposure on agricultural land and livestock. Additionally, the legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability around PFAS contamination by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national drinking water standard for PFAS and to create a public database of PFAS contamination sites. Overall, the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to support farmers who have been affected by PFAS contamination and to prevent future instances of contamination.

Congressional Summary of HR 1517

Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a grant program to help states and other entities address contamination by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, on agricultural land and commercial farms.

Specifically, the USDA program must provide an eligible government (e.g., a state, territory, or Indian tribe) a grant for purposes that include

providing financial assistance to a person whose commercial farm is affected by PFAS contamination;
assisting the producers on agricultural land and commercial farms contaminated by PFAS in developing an enterprise budget for alternative production, remediation strategies, transitioning to an alternative revenue stream, or relocating farming operations;
expanding the capacity of PFAS testing and data management; and
conducting research on soil and water remediation systems and food safety relating to PFAS contamination.

At least 30% of the program's total annual funding is set aside for one or more eligible governments with a population of less than 3 million people.

The bill also requires USDA to establish a task force to provide (1) advice regarding whether addressing PFAS contamination should be added as an eligible activity for each USDA program, (2) evaluations of necessary actions for farms already enrolled in a USDA program where PFAS is detected, and (3) technical assistance to eligible governments in addressing PFAS contamination.

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 1517

Bill HR 1517 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since March 9, 2023. Bill HR 1517 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on March 9, 2023. Bill HR 1517's most recent activity was Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. as of March 9, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 1517

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 1517

Primary Policy Focus

Agriculture and Food

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 1517

Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to States, territories, and Indian Tribes to address contamination by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on farms, and for other purposes.