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H.R. 4708: Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act

119th Congress · introduced 2025-07-23 · Agriculture and Food · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act

Plain summary

Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act This bill includes combatting the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) as a Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-priority research and extension area and reauthorizes other USDA research and extension initiatives. The bill specifically allows grants for developing and disseminating research-based tools and treatments to combat the spotted lanternfly, which is an invasive species native to Asia that feeds on a wide range of crops and plants (e.g., grapes, apples, hops, walnuts, and hardwood trees). Further, the bill reauthorizes USDA grants to support competitive specialized research and extension activities, including high-priority areas, through FY2030. The bill also specifically reauthorizes through FY2030 the Pulse Crop Health Initiative; the Comprehensive Food Safety Training Network; pollinator protection research and extension grants; increased USDA capacity and infrastructure to address and conduct research on colony collapse disorder and other pollinator issues; and a USDA-conducted nationwide honey bee pest, pathogen, health, and population status surveillance program.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] · 40 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Kelly (R-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Nicholas A. Langworthy (R-NY), Patrick Ryan (D-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. (R-PA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), David G. Valadao (R-CA), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Michael Lawler (R-NY), Daniel Meuser (R-PA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Christopher R. Deluzio (D-PA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Nick LaLota (R-NY), André Carson (D-IN), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Josh Riley (D-NY), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-NJ)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] reported raising $2.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-hr4708 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills