March 11, 2025
Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Mr. LaMalfa) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To require the Agricultural Research Service to conduct research relating to the exposure of wine grapes to wildfire smoke, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Wildfire smoke exposure research on wine grapes
(a) Research
(1) In general
The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, shall—
(A)
conduct research—
(i)
to identify the compounds responsible for smoke exposure; and
(ii)
to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing smoke-exposed wine grapes and smoke-affected wines, including fast and inexpensive screening methods;
(B)
establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke exposure compounds that occur naturally in wine grapes;
(C)
develop risk assessment tools or mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke exposure; and
(D)
study compounds that can act as a barrier between wine grapes and smoke compounds.
(2) Coordination
The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, shall carry out paragraph (1) in coordination with land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) located in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington that have conducted research on the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices.
(b) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.