H.R. 1719 — Farm to Fly Act of 2025

This section states the purposes of the Act, including enabling access for sustainable aviation fuels within USDA bioenergy programs to foster alternative biofuels for national aviation, expand the fuel supply, promote clean energy sources, and support U.S. agriculture, while recognizing agriculture's role in sustainable aviation fuel production and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge. The section also sets forth congressional findings on sustainable aviation fuels' benefits for domestic energy security, the agricultural sector, farm economy, rural development, and new markets for U.S. farmers.

This section amends definitions in the biomass research and development chapter by (1) revising the inclusions under "advanced biofuel" to add sustainable aviation fuel to clause (iv) (diesel-equivalent fuel derived from renewable biomass) and to insert new clause (v) (biofuel, including sustainable aviation fuel, produced from an intermediate ingredient or feedstock), with subsequent renumbering; and (2) adding paragraph (18) to define "sustainable aviation fuel." Sustainable aviation fuel is liquid fuel (the portion of which is not kerosene) that meets ASTM International Standard D7566 or the Fischer-Tropsch provisions of D1655 Annex A1; is not derived from coprocessing applicable materials (i.e., monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, free fatty acids, or fatty acid esters) with non-biomass feedstocks, from palm fatty acid distillates, or from petroleum; and is certified to achieve at least a 50% lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction compared to petroleum-based jet fuel, as determined under the International Civil Aviation Organization's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) or the GREET model (with biomass defined per 26 U.S.C. 45K(c)(3)). (Thus, these changes expand eligibility of sustainable aviation fuel for advanced biofuel programs under the chapter, including payments and research support.)

This section establishes a Farm to Fly collaboration initiative that directs the Secretary of Agriculture to pursue all Department of Agriculture mission areas for advancing sustainable aviation fuels through (1) ensuring cross-agency leadership to maximize effectiveness; (2) identifying opportunities to maximize sustainable aviation fuels development and commercialization; (3) leveraging capabilities of farmers, foresters, and the agricultural sector to capture opportunities in the emerging sustainable aviation fuels market; (4) supporting rural economic development through improved aviation sustainability; and (5) advancing public-private partnerships that complement federal efforts.

This section modifies the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance program by (1) adding to its purpose the fostering and advancement of sustainable aviation fuels; and (2) revising the definition of eligible technology to explicitly include sustainable aviation fuel (alongside advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased products) for both technologies adopted in viable commercial-scale biorefineries and those with demonstrated commercial potential. (The program provides loan guarantees to eligible entities for developing, constructing, and retrofitting commercial-scale biorefineries.)