HR566-119

What This Bill Does

The Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025 creates an Environmental Protection Agency grant program for cleaner air spaces during wildland fire smoke events. EPA may grant up to $3 million to air pollution control agencies, must make at least one grant to a Tribal air-quality agency, and can use up to 10 percent of the $30 million fiscal years 2026-2028 authorization for administration. Applicants must partner with community-based organizations, identify covered households and geographic communities, distribute educational materials, advertise clean air centers, and describe clean air center facilities, capacity, ventilation, and costs. Grantees must operate at least one staffed clean air center in an area at risk of wildland fire smoke, advertise its availability, and distribute eligible air filtration units. Covered households include households in low-income communities with people who are high-risk for smoke exposure and vulnerable because of health conditions, disability, or age. Eligible units must have a Clean Air Delivery Rate of at least 97 for smoke, be Energy Star certified, emit no ozone, and use true HEPA filters rated for 99.97 percent of 0.3 micrometer particles.

Who Benefits and How

Low-income households exposed to wildfire smoke benefit from HEPA filtration units and access to clean air centers. People with smoke-sensitive health conditions benefit because the program targets households vulnerable due to health, disability, or age. Tribal air quality agencies benefit because EPA must make at least one grant to a Tribal agency with air-quality jurisdiction. Community-based organizations benefit from required partnership roles in outreach, education, and cleaner air space implementation.

Who Bears the Burden and How

EPA air quality staff must administer applications, grant caps, Tribal grant requirements, and program oversight. Air pollution control agencies must run clean air centers, document partnerships, distribute filters, advertise services, and manage costs. Clean air center operators must keep facilities open, accessible, and staffed during wildland fire smoke events. Federal taxpayers fund the $30 million authorization and administrative expenses.

Key Provisions

• Establishes EPA cleaner air space grants for air pollution control agencies.
• Limits individual grants to $3 million and requires at least one Tribal air-quality agency grant.
• Requires community-based organization partnerships, clean air centers, public advertising, educational materials, and eligible filtration-unit distribution.
• Defines covered households around low-income communities, high smoke exposure risk, and health vulnerability.
• Authorizes $30 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 and allows EPA to use up to 10 percent for administration.