Bills · HR 91
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 91Hazardous wastes and toxic substancesDepartment of Health and Human Services
Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 3· LAST ACTION JAN 3
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
0
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
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- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it proposes to eliminate a federal agency specifically tasked with protecting public health from hazardous waste and toxic exposures. The ATSDR is responsible for investigating the health effects of chemical spills, advising communities on reducing exposure risks, and maintaining critical national registries related to environmental health.
If this bill becomes law, the specific expertise and dedicated focus of ATSDR on environmental health hazards would be dissolved. While one key function (the national registries) would be transferred, it is unclear how other services, like direct community health assessments or emergency response support, would be handled or if they would continue with the same level of focus and resources. Without the ATSDR, there could be a perceived gap in the federal government's ability to respond to and mitigate health threats from toxic substances, potentially impacting communities facing environmental contamination.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
The bill officially abolishes the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) one year after the bill becomes law.
This is the core action of the bill, eliminating a federal agency focused on public health and toxic substances.
PROVISION 02
All functions of the ATSDR will terminate, except for one key authority that must be transferred to another agency within the Department of Health and Human Services.
This ensures that some critical functions, like maintaining national disease registries, will continue under federal oversight.
PROVISION 03
The transferred authority involves maintaining national registries of serious diseases and illnesses, and of people exposed to toxic substances.
These registries are vital for tracking public health trends and understanding the impact of toxic exposures.
PROVISION 04
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is made responsible for managing the closing down of all other ATSDR functions and outstanding obligations during a one-year transition period.
This provision aims to ensure an orderly termination of the agency and its programs.
PROVISION 05
Numerous other federal laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), will be updated to remove references to the abolished ATSDR.
These technical changes ensure that federal statutes are consistent with the agency's abolition.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
R· Arizona
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
110
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSJAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Introduced in House
JAN 3
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 91
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 3, 2025
Last actionJan 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025
House BillHR 91Hazardous wastes and toxic substancesDepartment of Health and Human Services
Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JAN 3, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
