Sponsors (9)
The bill would deliver substantial public-health and environmental-justice gains by reducing particulate pollution from fossil fuels, but those benefits come with higher costs for energy producers and consumers and increased administrative burdens for governments.
Children, people with heart or lung disease, seniors, and other residents in communities with high particulate matter (PM) exposure would experience fewer respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, fewer premature deaths, and lower related health-care costs if PM from fossil-fuel combustion is reduced.
Low-income and minority communities located near power plants and other large PM sources would gain targeted pollution reductions that advance environmental justice and better protect large nearby populations.
Households and utility customers may face higher energy prices or utility rates during transition and compliance periods as fossil-fuel PM controls are implemented.
Power companies could incur higher compliance costs that may lead to plant closures or reduced operations, risking job losses for energy-sector workers and economic impacts in some rural communities.
State and local governments (and regulated firms) would face increased reporting and compliance burdens, raising administrative costs for public agencies and businesses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
States scientific findings that particulate matter causes serious health harms and that fossil fuel combustion is the largest U.S. source, noting millions live near power plants.
Expresses findings that particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a serious public health hazard that penetrates the lungs and bloodstream and is linked to heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis, reduced lung growth in children, stroke, lung cancer, and premature death. It notes that combustion of fossil fuels is the largest U.S. source of PM and that tens of millions of U.S. residents—including millions of children—live within three miles of fossil fuel–fired power plants. Summarizes scientific evidence about PM harms and population exposures to inform awareness and potential policy discussion; it does not itself create regulatory or funding requirements.
Introduced December 17, 2025 by Sheldon Whitehouse · Last progress December 17, 2025