Research for Healthy Soils Act

Bill: 118-hr-3871
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
Introduced: 2023-06-06
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution

Agricultural research

Farmland

Research administration and funding

Soil pollution
Latest action: action_date: 2023-07-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-06-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Research for Healthy Soils Act</b></p> <p>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. <i>Microplastic</i> is a plastic or plastic-coated particle that is less than 5 millimeters in size.</p> <p>The bill specifically allows grants for carrying out or enhancing research in this area (e.g., the development or analysis of wastewater treatment techniques to filter out or biodegrade microplastics from biosolids intended to be used for agricultural purposes).</p> <p>Further, the bill reauthorizes USDA grants to support competitive specialized research and extension activities, including high-priority areas, through FY2028. The bill also specifically reauthorizes through FY2028 </p> <ul> <li>the Pulse Crop Health Initiative; </li> <li>the Comprehensive Food Safety Training Network; </li> <li>pollinator protection research and extension grants; </li> <li>increased USDA capacity and infrastructure to address and conduct research on colony collapse disorder and other pollinator issues; and </li> <li>a USDA-conducted nationwide honey bee pest, pathogen, health, and population status surveillance program.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3871 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 2023 Ms. Perez (for herself and Mrs. Kim of California ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Research for Healthy Soils Act . 2. Microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland (a) In general 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 microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland, including by— (A) conducting surveys and collecting data on microplastic concentration, particle size and chemical composition in land-applied biosolids on farmland; (B) the development or analysis of wastewater treatment techniques to filter out or biodegrade microplastics from biosolids intended to be used for agricultural purposes; (C) conducting an analysis of the impact on agricultural crops and soil health of microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland; (D) conducting research to better understand how wastewater processing impacts microplastics; and (E) conducting research to better understand the fate, residence time, and transport of microplastics on farmland. . (b) Microplastics defined Section 1672(b) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 5925(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (3) Definitions In this section, the term microplastic means a plastic or plastic-coated particle that is less than 5 millimeters in any dimension. . 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 2028 .