February 9, 2026
Mr. Steube introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To prohibit weather modification within the United States, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Air Quality Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition of weather modification
(a) In general
Whoever, in any circumstance described in subsection (b), knowingly authorizes or conducts weather modification in the United States shall be subject to the penalties described in subsection (c).
(b) Circumstances described
For the purposes of subsection (a), the circumstances described in this subsection are that—
(1)
the defendant traveled in interstate or foreign commerce, or traveled using a means, channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce, in furtherance of or in connection with the conduct described in subsection (a);
(2)
the defendant used a means, channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in furtherance of or in connection with the conduct described in subsection (a);
(3)
the defendant transmitted in interstate or foreign commerce any communication relating to or in furtherance of the conduct described in subsection (a) using any means, channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means or in any manner, including by computer, mail, wire, or electromagnetic transmission;
(4)
the conduct described in subsection (a) occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, or any territory or possession of the United States; or
(5)
the conduct described in subsection (a) otherwise occurred in or affected interstate or foreign commerce.
(c) Penalties
(1) Criminal penalty
Whoever violates subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $100,000 for each violation, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(2) Civil penalty
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, impose a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation of subsection (a), in addition to any other penalties provided by law.
(3) Repeat violations
Each instance of injection, release, emission, or dispersal under subsection (a) shall constitute a separate violation of such section.
(4) Liability of officers and agents
In the case of a violation of subsection (a) by a public or private entity, the entity and any officer, director, or employee of the entity who knowingly authorizes a violation of, or violates, subsection (a) shall be subject to the penalties under this section.
Sec. 3. Reporting and investigation
(a) Aircraft reporting
(1) Establishment of system
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a system for air carriers to report the location and movement of any aircraft equipped with any component, device, or the like which may be used to support weather modification.
(2) Submission of reports
Such system may collect reports via telephone, email, mail, or an online portal.
(3) Publication of reports
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall make publicly available on the website of the Federal Aviation Administration any reports collected by such system under this subsection.
(b) Public reporting
(1) Establishment of system
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a system for the public to report suspected violations of section 2.
(2) Submission of reports
Such system may collect reports via telephone, email, mail, or an online portal.
(3) Publication of reports
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall make publicly available on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency any reports collected by such system under this subsection.
(c) Investigation
(1) In general
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall investigate suspected violations of section 2 reported pursuant to subsection (b) that the Administrator determines warrant further review.
(2) Determination
(A) Requirement
For any suspected violation investigated under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall determine whether a violation of section 2 has occurred.
(B) Coordination
In determining whether a violation of section 2 occurred, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency may coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the head of any other Federal agency that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency determines to be relevant, to verify the nature of any activities described in a report submitted pursuant to subsection (b).
(d) Referral to DOJ
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall refer a suspected violation that the Administrator determines to have occurred under subsection (c)(2) to the Attorney General of the United States for further action.
Sec. 4. Repeal of existing authorities
(a) Federal statutes
Any provision of a Federal statute authorizing or requiring weather modification, including a licensing requirement or permit for any such weather modification, is hereby repealed.
(b) Federal regulations or executive orders
Any provision of a Federal regulation or Executive order authorizing or requiring weather modification, including a licensing requirement or permit for any such weather modification, is hereby nullified and shall have no force or effect.
Sec. 5. Prohibition on research and experimentation
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal department or agency, or any recipient of Federal funds, may authorize or conduct any research, testing, or experimentation that constitutes weather modification in the United States, including the territories and possessions of the United States.
Sec. 6. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Air carrier
The term air carrier has the meaning given such term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Air pollutant
The term air pollutant has the meaning given such term in section 302(g) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7602(g)).
(3) Apparatus
The term apparatus means a device, instrument, or system.
(4) Atmosphere
The term atmosphere means the gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth, including all airspace within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
(5) Biological agent
The term biological agent has the meaning given such term in section 178 of title 18, United States Code.
(6) Chemical substance
The term chemical substance has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2602).
(7) Cloud seeding
The term cloud seeding means the act of altering the processes of a cloud or storm by releasing a substance into the air.
(8) Geoengineering
The term geoengineering means a technological intervention aimed at mitigating the effects of lowering the temperature of, or removing certain gases from, the atmosphere.
(9) Marine cloud brightening
The term marine cloud brightening means a strategy for adding aerosol to the lower atmosphere over ocean regions to increase the reflectivity of clouds.
(10) Stratospheric aerosol injection
The term stratospheric aerosol injection means a strategy for increasing the number of small reflective aerosols in the stratosphere to increase the reflection of incoming sunlight.
(11) Weather modification
(A) In general
The term weather modification means any injection, release, emission, or dispersal of a chemical substance, a biological agent, or an air pollutant, or conveyance of an apparatus, into the atmosphere that—
(i)
produces a change in the composition or behavior of the atmosphere; or
(ii)
affects the temperature, weather, climate, or intensity of sunlight.
(B) Examples
Such term includes—
(i)
geoengineering;
(ii)
cloud seeding;
(iii)
solar radiation modification and management;
(iv)
stratospheric aerosol injection; and
(v)
marine cloud brightening.
Sec. 7. Effective date
This Act shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.