[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4903 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4903
To amend the Public Health Service Act to carry out, expand, and
coordinate programs relating to plastic exposure health research, to
authorize grants, contracts, and agreements with respect to such
research, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 5, 2025
Ms. Stevens (for herself and Mr. Lucas) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to carry out, expand, and
coordinate programs relating to plastic exposure health research, to
authorize grants, contracts, and agreements with respect to such
research, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Plastic Health Research Act''.
SEC. 2. PLASTIC EXPOSURE HEALTH RESEARCH.
(a) Expansion and Coordination; Research Grants.--The Public Health
Service Act is amended by inserting after section 399V-7 (42 U.S.C.
280g-18) the following:
``SEC. 399V-8. PLASTIC EXPOSURE HEALTH RESEARCH.
``(a) Expansion and Coordination of Research Activities.--The
Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and
the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences, shall carry out, expand, and coordinate programs for the
conduct and support of research with respect to understanding plastic
exposures and the potential health effects stemming from plastic
exposure. The Secretary shall prioritize such research that--
``(1) promotes the improvement of scientific quality
through the development of vetted research methods that are
reproducible, improve comparability of results among research
studies, and develop standards definitions for microplastics
and nanoplastics materials;
``(2) develops validated testing methodologies and
reference materials for microplastics and nanoplastics in
different media that are reproducible and improve comparability
of results among research studies; or
``(3) fills gaps in the field of potential health effects
research through the use of methods that improve the quality
and comparability of scientific results.
``(b) Plastic Exposure Health Research Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the
Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Director
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the
Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences, may award grants or contracts to public entities,
nonprofit entities, academic research institutions, or
consortia of such entities (including such consortia that
collaborate with private entities) to conduct scientific
research on plastic exposure and the potential health effects
stemming from such exposure. In awarding such grants and
contracts, the Secretary shall prioritize research that--
``(A) improves the quality of scientific
information through the development of vetted research
methods that are reproducible, improve comparability of
results among research studies, and develop standard
definitions for microplastic and nanoplastic materials;
``(B) develops validated testing methodologies and
reference materials for microplastics and nanoplastics
in different media that are reproducible and improve
comparability of results among research studies; or
``(C) fills gaps in the field of potential health
effects research through the use of methods that
improve the quality and comparability of scientific
results.
``(2) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant or contract
under this subsection, an entity shall submit to the Secretary
an application in such form, in such manner, and containing
such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary
determines necessary.
``(3) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for each of
the following 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress,
and make publicly available, a report that provides an overview
of the research conducted or supported under this section,
together with any relevant findings.
``(4) Information sharing.--The Secretary shall share the
findings of the research supported by grants and contracts
under this subsection with--
``(A) the heads of relevant institutes and agencies
of the Department of Health and Human Services
(including the Director of the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences and the Commissioner of
Food and Drugs);
``(B) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
``(C) the Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology;
``(D) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; and
``(E) the centers of excellence for plastic
exposure health research described in section 463C.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(c) Plastic Exposure Defined.--In this section, the term `plastic
exposure' means exposure to macroplastics, microplastics, and
nanoplastics, including through plastic production and manufacturing,
occupational exposure, environmental exposure, end-user interaction
(such as handling and use of food packaging, manufactured goods, and
textiles), plastic recycling, plastic degradation through natural or
human-made processes, and plastic waste and disposal.''.
(b) Centers of Excellence for Plastic Exposure Health Research.--
The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section
463B (42 U.S.C. 285l-6) the following:
``SEC. 463C. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR PLASTIC EXPOSURE HEALTH
RESEARCH.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the Institute (in this section referred to as the `Secretary') may
award grants to, or enter into appropriate funding agreements with,
public entities, nonprofit entities, academic research institutions, or
consortia of such entities (including such consortia that collaborate
with private entities) to pay all or part of the cost of planning,
establishing, or strengthening, and providing basic operating support
for, centers of excellence to conduct and improve the quality of
scientific research to inform public health determinations and increase
public awareness (where scientifically warranted) with respect to the
potential health effects caused by plastic exposure. Such centers shall
prioritize research that--
``(1) develops standard material definitions;
``(2) improves the quality of scientific results to fill
gaps in the field of research;
``(3) fills gaps in the field of health research through
the use of methods that improve the quality and comparability
of scientific results; or
``(4) develops vetted testing methodologies for
microplastics and nanoplastics that can be replicated and can
be compared to other testing methodologies.
``(b) Purposes of Centers.--The purposes of the centers of
excellence referred to in subsection (a) are--
``(1) to improve the quality of scientific results while
researching the potential health effects stemming from plastic
exposure, including identifying potential links between plastic
exposure and such potential health effects;
``(2) to identify potential exposures to plastic and
conduct hazard assessments and risk assessments; and
``(3) to increase public awareness (where scientifically
warranted) of--
``(A) the potential health effects of plastic
exposure, sources of such exposure, outcomes of hazard
assessments, and the results of risk assessments
relating to such exposure; and
``(B) the research referred to in--
``(i) paragraph (1); or
``(ii) section 399V-8(a).
``(c) Use of Funds.--Funds made available under this section may be
used for--
``(1) the development of plastic hazard, exposure, or risk
assessment methodologies that can be replicated and compared to
other methodologies, which shall include--
``(A) the comprehensive characterization and
methods for characterization of the chemical and
physical properties of microplastics, nanoplastics,
macroplastics, and other plastics;
``(B) the development of validated testing
methodologies for microplastics and nanoplastics in
different media that can be replicated and compared to
other testing methodologies; and
``(C) detailing the quality assurance and quality
control measures taken to improve the scientific
results;
``(2) the application of exposure methodologies (including
both new and existing methodologies), if appropriately
validated and controlled, to assess the potential burden of
plastic exposures;
``(3) the support of research to assess potential health
impacts of plastic exposure; and
``(4) increasing public awareness of research results, as
scientifically warranted.
``(d) Policies.--A grant or agreement under this section shall be
entered into in accordance with policies established by the Secretary.
``(e) Duration of Grant or Agreement.--A grant or agreement under
this section shall be for a period of 5 years, and may be renewed by
the Secretary for subsequent 5-year periods in the case of a center of
excellence for which an appropriate technical and scientific peer
review group established by the Secretary has--
``(1) reviewed the operations of such center; and
``(2) submitted to the Secretary a recommendation that such
grant or agreement be renewed.
``(f) Coordination and Information Sharing With Other Institutes
and Agencies.--
``(1) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the
activities under this section with related activities of other
institutes and agencies of the Department of Health and Human
Services (including the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences and the Food and Drug Administration), the
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
``(2) Information sharing.--The Secretary shall share
research findings of the centers of excellence referred to in
subsection (a) with other institutes and agencies of the
Department of Health and Human Services (including the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Food and
Drug Administration), the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(3) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for each of
the following 4 years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress,
and make publicly available, a report that provides an overview
of the research conducted or supported under this section,
together with any relevant findings.
``(g) Plastic Exposure Defined.--In this section, the term `plastic
exposure' means exposure to macroplastics, microplastics, and
nanoplastics, including through plastic production and manufacturing,
occupational exposure, environmental exposure, end-user interaction
(such as handling and use of food packaging, manufactured goods, and
textiles), plastic recycling, plastic degradation through natural or
human-made processes, and plastic waste and disposal.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.''.
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