Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Tropospheric Ozone Research Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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 Tropospheric Ozone Research Act of 2026 directs the EPA Administrator to establish a competitive grant program focused on the climate impacts of tropospheric ozone. This program aims to fund research regarding how ozone concentrations affect global and regional temperatures, heat stress, crop loss, and ecosystem productivity. It also seeks to expand monitoring infrastructure and improve climate modeling. Eligible entities include institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, and specific nonprofit research entities. The Administrator is required to collaborate with the international scientific community and provide public reports on findings.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill establishes a competitive grant program totaling over $30 million for atmospheric and climate research.
- Scored +4
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets research into mitigating crop loss caused by tropospheric ozone.
- Scored +3
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill includes provisions to increase monitoring infrastructure coverage in rural regions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved understanding of climate and temperature impacts: The research aims to improve understanding of how tropospheric ozone affects global temperatures, as well as regional, localized, and seasonal temperatures and heat stress (Section 2(c)(1)(A) and (B)).
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Protection of food supplies and natural environments: The program seeks to understand the impacts of elevated ozone levels on crop loss, as well as forest and ecosystem productivity (Section 2(c)(1)(D) and (E)).
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Enhanced monitoring capabilities: The act includes strengthening and expanding monitoring and observational infrastructure, including ground-based networks in rural and agricultural regions (Section 2(c)(1)(G)(i)).
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Public access to scientific data: The Administrator is required to make data collected from monitoring infrastructure available to the public (Section 2(c)(3)).
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Transparency of research findings: Grant recipients must make their annual reports available to the public (Section 2(h)(1)(B)).
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 specifically targets research into mitigating crop loss caused by tropospheric ozone. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to increase monitoring infrastructure coverage in rural regions. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Protecting crop yields through ozone research can help stabilize food prices and supply for low-income households. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Understanding ozone impacts may prevent future economic disruptions related to environmental changes.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill establishes a competitive grant program totaling over $30 million for atmospheric and climate research.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill funds research to better understand and mitigate the climate and ecosystem impacts of tropospheric ozone. Does this invest in rural communities? — The act specifically calls for the expansion of monitoring networks in rural and agricultural regions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that research findings and monitoring data be made available to the public.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The research into ozone impacts on crop loss and ecosystem productivity may help protect long-term agricultural productivity.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The bill requires the EPA Administrator to collaborate with the international scientific community.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill aims to understand the health effects of tropospheric ozone to better address potential health risks.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Understanding ozone impacts on crop loss may help mitigate economic vulnerabilities for low-income food producers.
- 5/19/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 1 Cosponsor 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.
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii