Freedom for Farmers Act of 2021 (H.R. 33; 117th Congress)

by Andy Biggs

117th CONGRESS
1st Session

H.R. 33

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

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 4, 2021

Mr. Biggs introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To abolish the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 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 “Freedom for Farmers Act of 2021”.

SEC. 2. ABOLISHMENT OF AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY.

(a) Abolishment Of Agency.—The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (in this section referred to as the “Agency”) is abolished effective on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

(b) Termination Of Functions.—Except as provided in subsection (c)(1), all functions of the Agency shall terminate on the date specified in subsection (a).

(c) Transferred Authority.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Prior to the date specified in subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall transfer the authority vested in the Agency by section 104(i)(1)(A) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(1)(A)) as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act (relating to a national registry of serious diseases and illnesses and a national registry of persons exposed to toxic substances) to an appropriate agency within the Department of Health and Human Services.

(2) CORRESPONDING TRANSFER OF ASSETS AND PERSONNEL.—In connection with the transfer of authority under paragraph (1), the Secretary may transfer within the Department of Health and Human Services such assets, funds, personnel, records, and other property relating to the transferred authority as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(d) Wind-Up Period.—

(1) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term “wind-up period” means the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date specified in subsection (a).

(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Secretary shall be responsible for—

(A) the administration and wind-up, during the wind-up period, of all functions of the Agency that are terminated by this section;

(B) the administration and wind-up, during the wind-up period, of any outstanding obligations of the Federal Government under any programs of the Agency that are terminated by this section; and

(C) taking such other actions as may be necessary to wind-up any outstanding affairs of the Agency before the end of the wind-up period.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

(a) CERCLA.—The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) is amended—

(1) in section 104 (42 U.S.C. 9604), by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:

“(i) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in cooperation with the States, maintain a national registry of serious diseases and illnesses and a national registry of persons exposed to toxic substances.”;

(2) in section 111 (42 U.S.C. 9611)—

(A) by striking subsection (c)(4); and

(B) by striking subsection (m); and

(3) in section 310(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 9659(a)(2)), by striking “and the Administrator of the ATSDR”.

(b) Other Conforming Changes.—

(1) Section 2704 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (f).

(2) Section 405(d)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2601(d)(1)) is amended by striking “acting through the Director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,”.

(3) Section 209(c)(1)(A) of the Fire Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (29 U.S.C. 671a(c)(1)(A)) is amended by striking “the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,”.

(4) Section 118(e)(3)(A) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1268(e)(3)(A)) is amended by striking “, in consultation with the Research Office, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Great Lakes States” and inserting “, in consultation with the Research Office and Great Lakes States,”.

(5) Section 317F(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–7(a)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry”; and

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking “or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry”.

(6) Section 399S of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g–7) is amended—

(A) in subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)—

(i) by inserting “and” at the end of subclause (II);

(ii) by striking subclause (III); and

(iii) by redesignating subclause (IV) as subclause (III); and

(B) in subsection (d)(1)(A)—

(i) by striking clause (iv); and

(ii) by redesignating clauses (v) through (vii) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively.

(7) Section 399V–6(e)(5) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g–17(e)(5)) is amended by striking “and the Assessments of Chemical Exposures Program of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry”.

(8) Section 3(c) of the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l–3(c)) is amended—

(A) by striking paragraph (1); and

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (16) as paragraphs (1) through (15), respectively.

(9) Section 2201(e) of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12 note) is amended by striking “the Director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of” each place it appears.

(10) Section 2203 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–27) is amended—

(A) in subsection (b), by striking “within the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the discretion of the Secretary” and inserting “within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”; and

(B) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking “, within the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry”.

(11) Section 709(a)(7) of the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 300hh–14(a)(7)) is amended by striking “the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,”.

(12) Section 3001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6921(b)(1)) is amended by striking “the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and”.

(13) Section 3019 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6939a) is amended—

(A) by striking subsections (b) through (g); and

(B) in subsection (a), by striking the subsection designation and heading.

(14) Section 103(d)(2)(A) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7403(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking “the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,”.

(c) Applicability.—The amendments made by this section apply beginning on the date specified in section 2(a).