The "Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025" proposes to abolish the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) , effective one year after the bill's enactment. This action would terminate all functions of the Agency, with a specific exception for its authority related to national registries. Prior to its abolishment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is directed to transfer ATSDR's authority for maintaining a national registry of serious diseases and illnesses, and a national registry of persons exposed to toxic substances, to an appropriate agency within HHS. This transfer may include associated assets, funds, personnel, and records. The bill establishes a one-year wind-up period , during which the Secretary of HHS will administer and conclude all terminated ATSDR functions and outstanding federal obligations. To reflect ATSDR's abolishment, the bill includes extensive conforming amendments to numerous federal statutes. These amendments strike references to ATSDR and its Administrator from laws such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Public Health Service Act. Specifically, CERCLA is amended to assign the responsibility for maintaining the national registries directly to the Secretary of HHS, ensuring continuity for this particular function.
Department of Health and Human ServicesEnvironmental healthExecutive agency funding and structureHazardous wastes and toxic substances
Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-91| House
| Updated: 1/3/2025
The "Freedom for Farmers Act of 2025" proposes to abolish the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) , effective one year after the bill's enactment. This action would terminate all functions of the Agency, with a specific exception for its authority related to national registries. Prior to its abolishment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is directed to transfer ATSDR's authority for maintaining a national registry of serious diseases and illnesses, and a national registry of persons exposed to toxic substances, to an appropriate agency within HHS. This transfer may include associated assets, funds, personnel, and records. The bill establishes a one-year wind-up period , during which the Secretary of HHS will administer and conclude all terminated ATSDR functions and outstanding federal obligations. To reflect ATSDR's abolishment, the bill includes extensive conforming amendments to numerous federal statutes. These amendments strike references to ATSDR and its Administrator from laws such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Public Health Service Act. Specifically, CERCLA is amended to assign the responsibility for maintaining the national registries directly to the Secretary of HHS, ensuring continuity for this particular function.