PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 27, 2025
Farm to Fly Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to integrate the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels into its programs.
Specifically, this bill includes sustainable aviation fuel as an advanced biofuel for the purposes of several USDA bioenergy programs that primarily provide support and incentives for renewable energy projects.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
For purposes of these programs, the bill defines sustainable aviation fuel as liquid fuel, the portion of which is not kerosene, which (1) meets specific international standards, (2) is not derived from coprocessing specific materials (e.g., triglycerides) with a non-biomass feedstock, (3) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum, and (4) is certified as having a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage of at least 50% compared with petroleum-based jet fuel (based on specific standards and agreements).
In addition, the bill specifically includes fostering and advancing sustainable aviation fuels as part of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program.
Further, USDA must carry out a comprehensive and integrated pursuit of all USDA mission areas for the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels, including through
the identification of opportunities to maximize the development and commercialization of the fuels,
supporting rural economic development through improved sustainability for aviation, and
advancing public-private partnerships.
People & committees
Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] · R–OH
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Mar 20, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-27 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed Farm to Fly Act of 2025 would add sustainable aviation fuel to federal agricultural energy-law definitions and manufacturing assistance provisions, affecting aviation fuel producers and the agricultural sector. Qualifying fuel would have to meet technical standards, exclude certain sources, and have certified lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent below petroleum-based jet fuel. The bill would also require the Department of Agriculture to coordinate work on developing and commercializing these fuels, including collaboration with farmers, foresters, and private partners.
by inserting and sustainable aviation fuel after diesel-equivalent fuel
has been certified in accordance with subparagraph (B)(iii) as having a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage of at least 50 percent.
the percentage reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions achieved by such fuel as compared with petroleum-based jet fuel
(i) meets the requirements of— (I) ASTM International Standard D7566; or (II) the Fischer Tropsch provisions of ASTM International Standard D1655, Annex A1; (ii) is not derived from coprocessing an applicable material (or materials derived from an applicable material) with a feedstock which is not biomass; (iii) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum;
5. Biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product manufacturing assistance Section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103) is amended
The Secretary of Agriculture shall take such actions as are necessary to carry out a comprehensive and integrated pursuit of all Department of Agriculture mission areas for the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels
(2) identification of opportunities to maximize sustainable aviation fuels development and commercialization; (3) leveraging the capabilities of America’s farmers, foresters, and the agricultural sector in capturing the opportunities presented by the emerging sustainable aviation fuels market;
(5) advancing public-private partnerships through collaboration complementing Federal Government efforts.
Section 1 names the proposal the Farm to Fly Act of 2025. Section 2 states goals of opening Department of Agriculture bioenergy programs to sustainable aviation fuels and supporting agriculture. Its statements about energy security and new markets for farmers are legislative findings, not demonstrated outcomes.
This Act may be cited as the Farm to Fly Act of 2025.
To enable access for sustainable aviation fuels within Department of Agriculture bio-energy programs to foster alternative biofuels in national aviation, expanding the fuel supply, promoting clean energy sources, and supporting United States agriculture.
(b) Findings Congress finds the following:
(4) Sustainable aviation fuels will increase domestic energy security and create new markets for farmers of the United States while providing a new energy resource for the aviation sector.
Section 3 would amend the definitions in section 9001 of the 2002 farm law. It would add sustainable aviation fuel after an existing reference to diesel-equivalent fuel and add biofuel produced from an intermediate ingredient or feedstock—a material used to make the fuel. The surrounding existing definition is not reproduced.
Section 9001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)(B)— (A) in clause (iv), by inserting and sustainable aviation fuel after diesel-equivalent fuel;
(v) biofuel, including sustainable aviation fuel, produced from an intermediate ingredient or feedstock;
The proposed sustainable aviation fuel definition addresses liquid fuel's non-kerosene portion. It would require compliance with either ASTM International Standard D7566 or the Fischer Tropsch provisions of Standard D1655, Annex A1. These are technical fuel standards referenced by the bill; their requirements are not supplied.
The term sustainable aviation fuel means liquid fuel, the portion of which is not kerosene, which— (i) meets the requirements of— (I) ASTM International Standard D7566; or (II) the Fischer Tropsch provisions of ASTM International Standard D1655, Annex A1;
The definition would exclude fuel derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum. It would also exclude fuel made by processing specified materials, or their derivatives, together with a feedstock that is not biomass. The specified materials are monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and fatty acid esters.
(ii) is not derived from coprocessing an applicable material (or materials derived from an applicable material) with a feedstock which is not biomass; (iii) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum;
The term applicable material means— (I) monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides; (II) free fatty acids; and (III) fatty acid esters.
Qualifying fuel would need certification of at least a 50 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with petroleum-based jet fuel. The comparison would use either the latest international aviation carbon-offsetting framework adopted with United States agreement or the latest determinations under Argonne National Laboratory's Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies model, known as GREET.
(iv) has been certified in accordance with subparagraph (B)(iii) as having a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage of at least 50 percent.
The term lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage means, with respect to any sustainable aviation fuel, the percentage reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions achieved by such fuel as compared with petroleum-based jet fuel, as defined in accordance with— (I) the most recent Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation which has been adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States; or (II) the most recent determinations under the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model developed by Argonne National Laboratory.
For the fuel definition, the bill would use the meaning of biomass in section 45K(c)(3) of the federal tax code. That definition is not reproduced, so the supplied text does not establish which materials it includes.
(ii) Biomass The term biomass has the meaning given such term in section 45K(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Section 4 would require the Agriculture Secretary to coordinate sustainable aviation fuel work across the department. Required activities would include agency leadership coordination, identifying development and commercialization opportunities, involving farmers and foresters, supporting rural economic development through aviation sustainability, and advancing partnerships between government and private participants.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall take such actions as are necessary to carry out a comprehensive and integrated pursuit of all Department of Agriculture mission areas for the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels through— (1) ensuring leadership working across Department of Agriculture agencies to maximize effectiveness; (2) identification of opportunities to maximize sustainable aviation fuels development and commercialization; (3) leveraging the capabilities of America’s farmers, foresters, and the agricultural sector in capturing the opportunities presented by the emerging sustainable aviation fuels market; (4) supporting rural economic development through improved sustainability for aviation; and (5) advancing public-private partnerships through collaboration complementing Federal Government efforts.
Section 5 would add advancing sustainable aviation fuels to the purposes of the existing biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product manufacturing assistance law. It would also insert sustainable aviation fuel into two lists in section 9003(b)(3). Because those existing lists and their surrounding rules are not reproduced, these insertions alone do not establish the full eligibility requirements or assistance available.
5. Biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product manufacturing assistance Section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103) is amended
(C) by adding at the end the following: (5) foster and advance sustainable aviation fuels.
(2) in subsection (b)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by indenting the margins of clauses (i) through (iii) appropriately; (ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and (iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following: (ii) sustainable aviation fuel;
(B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by indenting the margins of clauses (i) through (iii) appropriately; (ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and (iii) by inserting after clause (i) the following: (ii) sustainable aviation fuel;
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated March 20, 2026, records introduction and referral to the House Agriculture Committee on February 27, 2025. It also records referrals on March 28, 2025, to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit and the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development. This snapshot does not establish enactment or the bill's subsequent status.
Source snapshot updated 2026-03-20T08:06:44Z. 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit. 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development. 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-27. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for a particular recipient or place was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish formal earmark status in accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow carve-out, special exemption, or preferential exception was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. Coverage of the policy's intended beneficiaries alone does not constitute such a finding. This conclusion does not extend to other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Mar 20, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI