Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act" authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program for States, territories, and Indian Tribes. These grants are intended to address contamination by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on agricultural land or in water used for farm products. Eligible governments can use the funds for various purposes, including monitoring health complications, compensating for contaminated land or products, and investing in new equipment or infrastructure. The program also supports research into remediation, soil/water safety, and alternative production systems. To ensure broader reach, the Secretary must provide at least 30 percent of total funding to eligible governments with populations under 3,000,000. The bill authorizes up to $500,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill provides comprehensive relief through compensation, research, infrastructure support, and income replacement for those affected by PFAS.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill offers direct financial assistance, equipment investment, and marketing support for commercial farm operators.
- Scored +5
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides direct financial assistance, enterprise budgeting, and marketing support to commercial farm operators.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Health Monitoring: Grants can fund the monitoring of PFAS-related health complications, including blood serum testing, for people living or working on contaminated land. (Section 4(a)(1))
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Financial Relief for Farmers: The program allows for providing compensation for agricultural land or farm products found to be contaminated, as well as providing financial assistance and income replacement to individuals on contaminated commercial farms. (Section 4(a)(2) and (5))
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Support for Business Transitions: Funding can be used to help producers invest in new equipment, infrastructure, and alternative production systems to maintain profitability after contamination is found. (Section 4(a)(3))
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Strategic Planning Assistance: The bill provides for assisting producers in developing enterprise budgets for relocating operations, finding new revenue streams, or implementing remediation strategies. (Section 4(a)(4))
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Research and Safety: Grants can support research into soil and water remediation, the viability of those systems, and food safety related to PFAS. (Section 4(a)(9))
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Community Support: The bill includes provisions to assist owners of farms not directly affected by PFAS with marketing efforts if their branding is impacted by the public perception of contamination in their territory. (Section 4(a)(12))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly listed within the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill provides comprehensive relief through compensation, research, infrastructure support, and income replacement for those affected by PFAS. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill offers direct financial assistance, equipment investment, and marketing support for commercial farm operators. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly allows Indian Tribes to receive grants to address PFAS contamination. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill addresses environmental and economic issues directly affecting agricultural and rural communities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides income replacement and financial assistance that can protect vulnerable agricultural workers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides economic safeguards for commercial farm owners and producers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides direct financial assistance, enterprise budgeting, and marketing support to commercial farm operators. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By providing compensation and infrastructure support, the bill helps stabilize agricultural economic activity. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill supports agricultural profitability and transitions which may help stabilize employment in the farming sector.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill funds research and implementation of soil and water remediation strategies for PFAS contamination. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides grants for infrastructure and technological adaptations in agricultural communities.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill authorizes significant funding for research into PFAS impact, soil/water remediation, and food safety.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides income replacement and financial assistance to prevent economic hardship for farming families. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill includes funds for Indian Tribes to address contamination on their lands.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill funds the monitoring of PFAS-related health complications through blood serum testing for affected individuals.
- 8/17/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/13/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 1/7/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/4/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jared GoldenDemocrat · Maine
Teresa Leger FernandezDemocrat · New Mexico
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York