February 9, 2026
Mr. Peters (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Ossoff, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To amend the Plant Protection Act to establish a fund for spotted wing drosophila research and mitigation.
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 Spotted Wing Abatement Trust Act of 2026
or the SWAT Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
the spotted wing drosophila, an invasive species from East Asia, has caused significant damage to many valuable fruit crops in the United States, including raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, and cherries; and
(2)
the Department of Agriculture estimates that spotted wing drosophila account for a combined 20 percent revenue loss across strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, and cherry crops, based on reported yield losses due to that species.
Sec. 3. Spotted wing drosophila research and mitigation
Subtitle A of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7711 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
420A. Spotted wing drosophila research and mitigation
(a) In general
The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (referred to in this section as the
Administrator) shall establish a fund within the Department of Agriculture to fund research relating to, and activities to mitigate the negative effects of, spotted wing drosophila.(b) Administration of fund
The Administrator shall—
(1)
determine eligible recipients to enter into cooperative agreements with, or award grants to, using amounts in the fund established under subsection (a); and
(2)
oversee the activities carried out using amounts in that fund.
(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated for the fund established under subsection (a) $6,500,000 for the fiscal year in which the Spotted Wing Abatement Trust Act of 2026 is enacted and each of the 4 fiscal years thereafter.