Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025
Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025 would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award grants to air pollution control agencies to create and run a “cleaner air space program.” The program centers on establishing publicly accessible clean air centers and distributing free, high-quality air filtration units to covered households—primarily in low-income communities and other vulnerable populations—during wildland fire smoke events. Programs would require partnerships with community-based organizations, clear plans for outreach and education, and data collection (including a six-month follow-up survey of households receiving units). The bill also requires a three-year Congressional report detailing program implementation, survey results, and recommendations for expansion or improvement. Funding is set at $30 million for fiscal years 2026–2028, with up to 10% for administrative costs, and at least one grant must go to a Tribal air quality agency.
Key Points
- 1Grants to agencies: EPA-administered grants to air pollution control agencies to implement the cleaner air space program, with per-grant caps at $3,000,000 and a mandate to fund at least one Tribal agency.
- 2Partnerships and proposals: Applications must include a partnership with a community-based organization, roles/responsibilities of all parties, geographic reach, plans to distribute educational materials and advertise centers, and details on establishing a clean air center (location, capacity, ventilation), plus a description of costs.
- 3Clean air centers and unit distribution: Each program must establish at least one clean air center in an area at risk for wildland fire smoke, ensure it is accessible to covered households and staffed during events (option to be open before/after events), and distribute at least 1,000 eligible air filtration units at no cost to households, along with one replacement filter per unit.
- 4Eligible filtration units: Units must meet specified standards—AHAM Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of at least 97 for smoke, Energy Star certification, no ozone emission, and a true HEPA filter removing 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles.
- 5Education, data, and surveys: Programs must provide educational materials on using filtration units and creating clean air rooms, collect data on unit types, quantities, and costs, and conduct an anonymous six-month post-distribution survey covering setup, usage, barriers, perceived air quality, and program improvements.
- 6Partnerships and reporting: Agencies must partner with at least one community-based organization and, within three years, EPA must report to Congress on program details, survey results, and recommendations regarding expansion and improvement.
- 7Funding and administration: Authorization of $30,000,000 for 2026–2028, with up to 10% of funds for administrative expenses.