Fruit Crop Protection: Researching and Stopping Invasive Fruit Flies
Also known as: SWAT Act of 2026
Legislative Progress
✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President
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.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Feb 9, 2026Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SWAT Act of 2026
Bill NumberS 3810
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.