Overview

Title

To abolish the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The "Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025" is a plan to close a special government group that looks at toxic stuff and where it makes people sick. Another part of the government will take over their work, but the plan doesn't say exactly who or how they will do it.

Summary AI

H.R. 91, also known as the "Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025," proposes to abolish the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry one year after the act's enactment. The bill assigns the Secretary of Health and Human Services the responsibility for winding up the agency's functions during this period and transferring its authority to another appropriate agency within the Department. It also includes several amendments to existing laws to remove references to the abolished agency.

Published

2025-01-03
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-01-03
Package ID: BILLS-119hr91ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
1,528
Pages:
8
Sentences:
27

Language

Nouns: 454
Verbs: 87
Adjectives: 25
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 92
Entities: 118

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.90
Average Sentence Length:
56.59
Token Entropy:
4.64
Readability (ARI):
28.34

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

H.R. 91, titled the "Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025," is a legislative proposal aimed at abolishing the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal agency responsible for assessing hazardous substances and their impact on public health. The bill outlines a plan to dismantle the agency one year after the enactment of the bill, transferring specific functions and responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, the bill includes amendments to existing legislation to remove references to the ATSDR and reallocate duties related to environmental health and disease monitoring to other entities.

Summary of Significant Issues

One of the notable concerns with this bill is the lack of clarity regarding which specific agency within the HHS will inherit the responsibilities and powers of the ATSDR. This ambiguity could create confusion about who is accountable for overseeing public health functions related to toxic substances.

The bill also lacks a detailed plan for effectively managing the transfer of assets, funds, personnel, and records, which could result in disorganization or inefficiencies. Furthermore, there is scant attention to the potential public health impacts resulting from the agency's abolishment, raising alarms about how the transition might affect ongoing health and safety measures.

Another significant issue is the vague language used, such as "such other actions as may be necessary," which could be open to interpretation, possibly leading to misuse or differing legal interpretations.

Impact on the Public and Stakeholders

The public might experience broad impacts from this legislative change. While the bill's proponents might argue that abolishing a federal agency could streamline processes and reduce redundancies, detractors contend that it could weaken public health protections against environmental hazards. The absence of a dedicated registry for tracking exposure to toxic substances might hinder efforts to manage environmental health risks effectively, potentially leaving affected communities without essential data or support systems.

Specific stakeholders, such as environmental health professionals and state health departments, could face challenges due to the changes proposed in the bill. Professionals in the field might be left navigating a fragmented system without clear leadership or coordination, complicating efforts to respond promptly to public health crises. Conversely, certain stakeholders like farmers and industries might view this bill as a positive step toward reducing regulatory burdens perceived as inhibiting economic growth.

In conclusion, while the "Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025" proposes a transition that might streamline bureaucratic processes, it carries substantial risks in terms of clarity, accountability, and public health readiness. The bill's impact will largely depend on how well the responsibilities of the ATSDR are integrated into the existing frameworks within the HHS and how these changes are communicated and managed across relevant stakeholders.

Issues

  • The abolishment of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry without specifying which 'appropriate agency' within the Department of Health and Human Services will receive its authority could lead to ambiguity regarding responsibility (Section 2).

  • The absence of a clear plan for handling the assets, funds, personnel, records, and other property to be transferred may lead to inefficiencies or mismanagement (Section 2).

  • The legislation lacks clarity on potential impacts on public health and services due to the abolishment of the Agency, which may be of concern to the general public (Section 2).

  • The vague language 'such other actions as may be necessary' in subsection (d)(2)(C) could lead to differing interpretations or misuse, creating potential legal and administrative issues (Section 2).

  • Ambiguity in the phrase 'in cooperation with the States' regarding how cooperation is defined and executed in section 104 amendment might lead to uneven implementation across states (Section 3(a)(1)).

  • The document does not address the potential oversight or accountability measures to ensure appropriate and efficient transfer of assets by the 'Secretary' (Section 2).

  • The lack of clarity on the implications of striking subsections or clauses in related statutes may lead to misunderstandings about the bill's impact on current operations or regulations (Section 3).

  • Unclear applicability clause stating 'beginning on the date specified in section 2(a)' adds unnecessary complexity in understanding when changes take effect (Section 3(c)).

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the bill gives it a short title, allowing it to be referred to as the “Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025.”

2. Abolishment of Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill section outlines the abolishment of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which will take place one year after the bill is enacted. It also details the transfer of certain functions and assets to the Department of Health and Human Services and describes the responsibilities during the wind-up period to conclude the agency's activities.

3. Conforming amendments Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section provides amendments to various U.S. laws, removing references to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and updating responsibilities or authorities of other entities, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in managing issues like toxic substance exposure and environmental health.