Introduced in Senate — S. 2500

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Research for Healthy Soils Act.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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.