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Senate Passes Growing Climate Solutions Act
The U.S. Senate has passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act with overwhelming bipartisan support to create a third-party certification carbon program at USDA.
Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, is the bill’s co-sponsor.
“This bill puts farmers and foresters first,” she says.
Stabenow says the bill does three things for producers: sets up a network of experts and third-party verifiers to help producers market carbon, creates online resources, and sets up an advisory council to help guide USDA.
Republican Senator Mike Braun, co-sponsor and Indiana tree farmer, says the legislation also simplifies the process for small farmers to participate in carbon markets.
“It allows the USDA to provide legitimacy to the trustworthy actors in the marketplace,” he says.
The bill passed by a vote of 92-8 and is supported by more than 175 ag and environmental organizations.
