Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and expand the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields program, which helps communities clean up contaminated or abandoned sites and turn them into new housing, businesses, and public spaces.
“Kansas communities have seen how cleaning up contaminated sites can spark new economic growth and improve quality of life,” said Davids. “This bipartisan effort brings more resources to local leaders working to turn unused, polluted land into new housing, green space, and business opportunities. I’m proud to partner across the aisle with Rep. Fitzpatrick to build on a program that delivers real results.”
By reauthorizing the EPA’s Brownfields program, the bipartisan legislation would:
- Increase the maximum cleanup award from $500,000 to $1 million;
- Increase total program funding from $200 million to $250 million per year; and
- Maintain State Response Program funding at $50 million per year — totaling $1.5 billion over five years, consistent with bipartisan infrastructure law funding levels.
“Across the country, communities are working to reclaim former industrial sites and turn them into places that support jobs, housing, and opportunity,” said Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). “The EPA’s Brownfields program has been central to that progress. This reauthorization strengthens and modernizes the program — updating grant levels, reducing cost barriers, and making these tools accessible to the communities working hardest to redevelop. It’s a smart investment in safer land, stronger economies, and the future of our towns.”
The EPA Brownfields program has a proven record of success, leveraging an average of $20 in additional public and private investment for every federal dollar spent and supporting redevelopment projects that strengthen local economies. A version of this bipartisan proposal is expected to be included in a U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee markup later this year.
Kansas has already seen major benefits from the program, including $2.5 million awarded in September 2025, $4 million in May 2025, and $1.5 million in May 2024. These investments also help boost local economies — creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and increasing property values for families living nearby.