SWAT Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Senator Peters, aims to protect American fruit farmers from an invasive fruit fly called the spotted wing drosophila. This pest comes from East Asia and targets popular fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and peaches.
• The Department of Agriculture reports that these flies are responsible for a 20% loss in revenue for several major fruit crops. Because these flies lay eggs inside ripening fruit, they can quickly ruin entire harvests before they reach grocery stores.
• If passed, the law would set aside $6.5 million every year for five years to fund scientific research and find better ways to stop the flies from spreading. The money would be managed by the Department of Agriculture through grants and partnerships.
• The goal is to help farmers reduce their financial losses and ensure a more stable supply of fresh fruit for consumers. By finding new ways to control the pest, the program hopes to lower the cost of protecting crops.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.