# Plain Language Summary: Freedom for Farmers Act of 2023

This bill would shut down the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal health agency that has been operating since 1980. The agency would be eliminated one year after the bill becomes law. The bill's title mentions "freedom for farmers," but the actual content doesn't specifically address farming—it's a broader move to eliminate this entire government health agency.

Here's what ATSDR currently does: it maintains national registries tracking serious diseases and illnesses linked to toxic substance exposure, and it keeps records of people who have been exposed to hazardous chemicals. The agency also conducts health studies on communities affected by contaminated sites and provides health information to the public about toxic substances. If this bill passes, those functions would be transferred to other parts of the Department of Health and Human Services, though the bill doesn't clearly specify which agencies would take over or how well they'd handle the work.

The practical impact would be significant for people living near contaminated sites, industrial areas, or hazardous waste facilities. Without ATSDR's focused attention, there could be delays in investigating disease clusters or tracking chemical exposures. Communities trying to understand health risks from pollution in their area might find it harder to get information and support. The bill also removes ATSDR from various environmental laws where it currently participates—meaning fewer experts at the table when decisions are made about toxic cleanup and public health protection. Workers and residents who rely on this agency's research and health registries could see reduced resources and attention to their concerns.

Freedom for Farmers Act of 2023

Biggs, Andy

Freedom for Farmers Act of 2023 This bill abolishes the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. This agency, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), investigates and responds to environmental exposures to hazardous substances in communities. HHS must transfer authority regarding certain national disease and toxic exposure registries to another appropriate HHS entity.