Bill > S2500

This bill, known as the Research for Healthy Soils Act, aims to expand agricultural research on microplastics in biosolids (treated sewage sludge) applied to farmland. Specifically, the bill amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish microplastics research as a high-priority area for research and extension grants. The proposed research would include conducting surveys to measure microplastic concentration, size, and chemical composition in farmland biosolids; developing techniques to filter or biodegrade microplastics in wastewater treatment; analyzing the impact of microplastics on crop health and soil quality; investigating how wastewater processing affects microplastics; and studying how microplastics move and persist in agricultural environments. Additionally, the bill extends the authorization for various high-priority research and extension initiatives from 2023 to 2031, ensuring continued funding and support for these important agricultural research efforts. Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, are a growing environmental concern due to their potential to contaminate ecosystems and food systems.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2500/all-info