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HR 4832119th CongressIn Committee

Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025

Introduced: Aug 1, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4] (R-Missouri)
Labor & EmploymentTechnology & Innovation
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025 aims to significantly expand and strengthen the United States’ biobased markets by modernizing the Department of Agriculture’s BioPreferred program, broadening the definitions of biobased products, and creating new labeling and procurement requirements. The bill would push federal agencies to purchase more biobased products (and to prioritize biobased-only contracts or higher volumes), require price premiums and lifecycle considerations in procurement decisions, and improve data reporting, training, and cataloging related to biobased goods. It also creates a temporary Biobased Task Force within USDA to coordinate research, promotion, and analysis across programs, and establishes a new framework for bioproduct labeling to curb mislabeling and provide clearer definitions. Together, these measures are designed to boost rural economies, support domestic biobased manufacturing (including products derived from corn, soy, and other agricultural or forestry resources), and promote more sustainable, plant-based alternatives. If enacted, the bill could expand markets for agricultural commodities, increase federal procurement of biobased products, incentivize new bioproduct development, and require more uniform labeling and data reporting across government procurement systems. It would also create a time-limited advisory body and establish new standards for evaluating and communicating the environmental and economic benefits of biobased products.

Key Points

  • 1Modernizes and tightens the BioPreferred procurement program
  • 2- Requires annual increases in biobased-only contracts or the volume purchased under those contracts.
  • 3- Establishes a price premium framework for biobased products and adds guidance to consider product lifespan, savings, and efficacy in procurement decisions.
  • 4- Adds training requirements for agency staff, public reporting, and data system updates to track biobased purchasing across federal systems.
  • 5Expanded definitions and new labeling framework
  • 6- Adds new terms: bio-attributed plastic, bio-attributed product, biobased plastic, biobased product, plant-based product, bioproduct (biobased or bio-attributed), intermediate ingredient or feedstock, renewable biomass, and renewable chemical.
  • 7- Allows the Secretary to adopt alternate definitions for covered terms for labeling purposes, and makes mislabeling unlawful.
  • 8- Creates a new Bioproducts labeling regime with confidentiality protections for sensitive information.
  • 9Federal data systems, training, and oversight
  • 10- Requires updates to the Federal Procurement Data System, the System for Award Management, and online procurement platforms to designate biobased products and track related purchases.
  • 11- Establishes reporting on non-Federal contributions used for public marketing and education activities.
  • 12- Provides for periodic public reporting on labeled biobased products, compliance actions, and future outreach plans.
  • 13Biobased Task Force (temporary USDA advisory body)
  • 14- Establishes a Task Force to coordinate USDA programs related to biobased products, maximize resources, assess effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
  • 15- Composed of representatives from multiple USDA mission areas (rural development, NIFA, ERS, ARS, NASS, Chief Scientist, Chief Economist, Energy Policy and New Uses, and other relevant offices).
  • 16- Lead mission area is Rural Development; includes a public input process.
  • 17- Task Force must study opportunities within USDA and report findings and recommendations within three years; terminates four years after enactment.
  • 18Public marketing, education, and funding flexibility
  • 19- The Secretary may conduct outreach to educate the public and promote biobased products, including outreach to small businesses and state procurement agencies.
  • 20- Authorities to accept and use non-Federal contributions to fund outreach activities, supplementing existing appropriations.
  • 21Bioproduct labeling enforcement and standards
  • 22- Establishes a mechanism to define and enforce bioproduct terms, with the Secretary and Administrator able to set or adjust definitions.
  • 23- Requires adherence to standards such as ASTM D-6866 (biobased content) or other approved standards, and ensures stakeholder input before issuing rules or guidance.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Farmers and feedstock producers (corn, soy and other renewable resources) and biobased product manufacturers; federal procurement officials and agencies administering the BioPreferred program; rural and agricultural economies.Secondary group/area affected- State and local procurement agencies; small businesses producing biobased products; labeling/compliance professionals; environmental and lifecycle assessment researchers; online government procurement platforms and cataloging systems.Additional impacts- Potential changes in purchasing costs and pricing for biobased products due to new price premium rules.- Increased market visibility and potential growth for biobased product lines, including plastics, plant-based products, and biobased chemicals.- Need for greater data collection, reporting, and possible regulatory compliance costs for agencies and private partners.The bill builds on the existing BioPreferred program by linking procurement more actively to biobased content, lifecycle considerations, and data transparency.It introduces a temporary USDA task force to coordinate and evaluate programs, with a concrete reporting timeline and a sunset after four years.It creates a formal labeling framework for bioproduct terms to reduce mislabeling, with confidentiality protections for proprietary information.The bill does not specify appropriations; it allows some funding flexibility (including non-Federal contributions for outreach) but would still rely on future appropriations or reallocation within USDA for the expanded activities.
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