A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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
This bill, known as the "Spotted Wing Abatement Trust Act of 2026," seeks to amend the Plant Protection Act. It proposes the creation of a fund within the Department of Agriculture to address the spotted wing drosophila. This invasive species causes damage to various fruit crops like berries and stone fruits. The fund would support research and activities meant to mitigate the negative effects of this species. The Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service would oversee the fund and its recipients. Finally, the bill authorizes $6,500,000 for this fund for the current fiscal year and the following four years.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +4
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill creates a fund specifically to mitigate revenue losses for farmers growing berries and stone fruits.
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides financial mitigation through research to protect the revenue of fruit crop producers.
- Scored +3
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill authorizes $6.5 million annually for research regarding the spotted wing drosophila.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Mitigation of Crop Damage: The establishment of a fund for research and activities to mitigate the negative effects of the spotted wing drosophila (Section 3, subsection a) could help protect valuable fruit crops such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, and cherries (Section 2, subsection 1).
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Economic Protection for Farmers: By addressing a species that accounts for a combined 20 percent revenue loss across several fruit crops (Section 2, subsection 2), the fund could help reduce significant financial losses for those in the agricultural industry (Section 3, subsection a).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in 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 creates a fund specifically to mitigate revenue losses for farmers growing berries and stone fruits. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides financial mitigation through research to protect the revenue of fruit crop producers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The fund helps protect fruit growers from significant revenue losses caused by invasive species. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By mitigating crop revenue losses, the bill aims to protect the economic output of the fruit industry. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill funds research and mitigation activities which may support employment in the agricultural research sector.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill authorizes $6.5 million annually for research regarding the spotted wing drosophila.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill addresses the impact of an invasive species on domestic ecosystems and agriculture.
- 5/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/9/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan