S. 2500

119 S2500 IS: Research for Healthy Soils Act
 U.S. Senate
 2025-07-29
 text/xml
 EN
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  II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 2500
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
  July 29, 2025
  Mr. Merkley  (for himself,  Mr. Booker ,  Mr.
  Whitehouse ,  Mr. Wyden , and
  Mr. Van Hollen ) introduced the following
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
  Forestry
  A BILL
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to
  include as a high-priority research and extension area research on microplastics in
  land-applied biosolids on farmland, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Research for Healthy Soils Act  .
2.
Microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland
Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 5925(d) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(21)
Microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland
Research and extension grants may be made under this section for the purposes of carrying out or enhancing research on the agricultural impacts of plastic or plastic-coated particles that are less than 5 millimeters in any dimension (referred to in this paragraph as  microplastics ) in land-applied biosolids on farmland, including—
(A)
by conducting surveys and collecting data on microplastic concentration, particle size, and chemical composition in land-applied biosolids on farmland;
(B)
through the development or analysis of wastewater treatment techniques to filter out or biodegrade microplastics from biosolids intended to be used for agricultural purposes;
(C)
by conducting an analysis of the impact on agricultural crops and soil health of microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland;
(D)
by conducting research to better understand how wastewater processing impacts microplastics; and
(E)
by conducting research to better understand the fate, residence time, and transport of microplastics on farmland.
  .
3.
Reauthorization of high-priority research and extension initiatives
Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 5925 ) is amended by striking  2023  each place it appears in subsection (e)(5), subsection (f)(5), paragraphs (1)(B), (2)(B), and (3) of subsection (g), and subsection (h) and inserting  2031 .