All House Ag Dems to Committee Leadership: Hands-Off Climate ... - Chellie Pingree

All House Ag Dems to Committee Leadership: Hands-Off Climate-Smart Conservation Funding Passed in Inflation Reduction Act | U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree

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| All House Ag Dems to Committee Leadership: Hands-Off Climate-Smart Conservation Funding Passed in Inflation Reduction Act
Representatives Chellie Pingree, Nikki Budzinski, and Jim Costa led Democratic House Agriculture Committee colleagues in urging Chair Thompson and Ranking Member Scott to ensure the nearly $20 billion provided in the Inflation Reduction Act is used for its intended purpose in the 2023 Farm Bill
Washington, October 23, 2023
Maine’s First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and all Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee today wrote to Chair Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-Ga.) urging that the nearly $20 billion of conservation funding passed in the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) be used only for its intended purpose in the upcoming Farm Bill. The Democratic lawmakers said the IRA “was intended to go towards climate smart conservation, and it would ultimately be a disservice to American farmers should these funds go elsewhere.”
“Historic investment in conservation will benefit all farmers, and the authorized climate-smart practices will improve water quality, soil health, and habitat preservation on farms across the country. At a time when farmers are facing a torrent of climate related disasters, it is more important than ever to provide the resources that enable farmers to remain profitable and resilient,” the lawmakers wrote.
“The Inflation Reduction Act conservation funding will make an historic investment in farmers from all regions and give them the resources needed to adapt to and mitigate climate change. The evidence is clear that these investments are necessary and in demand,” they continued.
The full letter is available
The IRA, championed by House Democrats and signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history. The IRA provides an additional $19.5 billion over five years to support USDA’s conservation programs that yield climate change mitigation benefits.
Pingree has been an organic farmer since the 1970s and is a recognized national policy leader on sustainable food and farming. As a member of both the House Agriculture Committee and House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, Pingree continues to be a vocal advocate for agriculture and food policy reform. Because of her leadership, the 2018 Farm Bill more than doubled funding for organic research, created the first federal produce prescription program, and created the local agriculture market program with permanent federal funding.
Pingree is the author of the
In addition to the Agriculture Committee, Pingree is the
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Dear Chair Thompson and Ranking Member Scott,
As you negotiate the 2023 Farm Bill, we urge you to ensure that the nearly $20 billion provided in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is used for its intended purpose. Historic investment in conservation will benefit all farmers, and the authorized climate-smart practices will improve water quality, soil health, and habitat preservation on farms across the country. At a time when farmers are facing a torrent of climate related disasters, it is more important than ever to provide the resources that enable farmers to remain profitable and resilient.
The Inflation Reduction Act conservation funding will make an historic investment in farmers from all regions and give them the resources needed to adapt to and mitigate climate change. The evidence is clear that these investments are necessary and in demand.
The Inflation Reduction Act was intended to go towards climate smart conservation, and it would ultimately be a disservice to American farmers should these funds go elsewhere. We implore you to keep the funds for their intended purpose and provide the resources farmers need.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue. We are hopeful that we can keep the Inflation Reduction Act funds dedicated to a robust set of practices and programs that serve farmers across the nation.
Sincerely,
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