Contact Congress about H.R. 6409: FENCES Act

States could avoid some federal air penalties when pollution mostly comes from outside their control. The bill also blocks some out-of-compliance labels for new or updated standards if foreign pollution is the real reason. States still have to keep working to meet federal air rules.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

FENCES Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Latest action on H.R. 6409: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects states and local air agencies in places with serious ozone or particulate matter pollution, especially where outside pollution pushes readings higher. It also matters to people and businesses in those areas because federal penalties and fees may be less likely in some cases. EPA would have to decide whether a state has shown enough proof to qualify for that relief.

Why this matters: This bill matters because some places can miss federal air targets partly because of pollution they did not create and cannot fully control. It could lower some penalties in those cases and change which areas are officially labeled out of compliance. At the same time, states would still have to keep working toward federal ozone and particulate matter standards, so the bill changes the penalty system more than the cleanup duty itself.

Key provisions in H.R. 6409

• Foreign pollution would count under this Clean Air Act rule whether it comes from people or from natural causes. The bill makes that explicit.
• EPA could not label an area out of compliance with a new or updated air standard if the state proves foreign pollution is the only reason it misses the mark. That includes both natural and human-caused pollution from outside the country.
• A state would have to prove its case to EPA. The EPA Administrator must be satisfied with that showing.
• The bill creates a new Clean Air Act section called 179C. It sets rules for when certain federal sanctions and fees do not apply in some heavily polluted areas.
• This new relief would apply only to the worst ozone areas and certain serious particle pollution areas. The bill names Severe and Extreme ozone areas and Serious particulate matter areas.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 6409

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 6409

What is H.R. 6409?

States could avoid some federal air penalties when pollution mostly comes from outside their control. The bill also blocks some out-of-compliance labels for new or updated standards if foreign pollution is the real reason. States still have to keep working to meet federal air rules.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 6409?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 6409?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 6409 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.