Sponsors (6)
The bill reduces per‑unit petroleum costs and creates a steadier repayment schedule for an oil‑spill fund, but does so by eliminating a Superfund financing rate and tapping unobligated trust balances—tradeoffs that could shrink cleanup funding, weaken spill‑response reserves, and introduce legal ambiguity about repayments.
Drivers and other petroleum purchasers will pay lower per‑unit costs because the hazardous substance Superfund financing rate is eliminated after Dec 31, 2025.
Federal fund managers and related counterparties will have a predictable repayment schedule because repayments to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund will occur quarterly from unobligated Fund balances instead of a single lump‑sum deadline.
Taxpayers and communities near contaminated sites could face reduced hazardous‑substance cleanup activity because eliminating the financing rate cuts a dedicated revenue stream for remediation.
Coastal communities, taxpayers, and spill‑response capacity could be at greater risk if quarterly repayments draw down unobligated Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund balances needed for future spill response and preparedness.
Treasury, taxpayers, and other stakeholders may face legal and implementation uncertainty because the bill removes a clear statutory repayment deadline, which could create ambiguity about timing and congressional intent.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Ends the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate after Dec 31, 2025 and requires quarterly repayments from unobligated Fund amounts until repaid.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Mike Carey · Last progress February 12, 2026
Ends the federal Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate so that the rate no longer applies after December 31, 2025, and changes how amounts in the Superfund are used to make required repayments. The termination of the financing rate takes effect January 1, 2026; changes to repayment language take effect on enactment and direct quarterly repayments from unobligated Fund amounts until full repayment.