A coalition of lawmakers urges the House Agriculture Committee to protect the nearly $20 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate-smart agriculture programs in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition made the request this week in a letter to Committee leadership.
The letter states, “The $19.5 billion in Inflation Reduction Act investments for Farm Bill Title II conservation programs and technical assistance within USDA is critical to fighting climate change, and the next Farm Bill represents a significant opportunity to strengthen climate-resilience.” The letter was signed by coalition co-chairs, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Kim Schrier, along with the 16 other members of the task force.
The letter explains that because agriculture also holds the potential to store significant quantities of carbon, it represents a unique opportunity to tackle climate change. The coalition was founded in January 2009 to advocate for policies for clean energy innovation, environmental protection, and policies that address global climate change.
