Senate considers climate bill-again
Senate saw a harmonious climate change act introduction by both Democratic and Republican senators.
A new version of the Growing Climate Solutions Act has been reintroduced to Senate this week, with backing from 60 major agricultural businesses, 18 republicans and 15 democrats.
The bill if passed will create a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification process, a Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and a Third-Party Verifier Certification Program.
According to the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the goal of the act is to encourage more agricultural producers like farmers and ranchers to participate in carbon credit markets. The USDA has accredited the lack of participation to technical service issues.
The USDA will also create a new website with necessary information that agricultural producers may need in order to use carbon credit markets.
“The USDA certification lowers barriers to entry in the credit markets by reducing confusion and improving information for farmers looking to implement practices that capture carbon, reduce emissions, improve soil health, and make operations more sustainable.” Stated the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. “Through the program, USDA will help connect landowners to private sector actors who can assist the landowners in implementing the protocols and monetizing the climate value of their sustainable practices.”
The bill was introduced by Indiana Republican Mike Braun, Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham and Rhode Island Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.
The other co-sponsors of the bill are Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AR), Dianne Feinstien (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE) Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ruphael Warnock (D-GA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cindy Hyde Smith (R-MS), Deb Fisher (R-NE), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hoeven (R-ND), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (R-OR), John Thune (R-SD), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cynthia Lonnis (R-WY).
American Farm Bureau Federation, National Audubon Society, National Corn Growers Association and the National Wildlife Federation are a few of the agricultural and environmental businesses that support the Growing Climate Solutions Act.