SEEC Climate and Agriculture Task Force Urges Protection of IRA Conservation Funds in Farm Bill

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Climate and Agriculture Task Force Co-Chairs, Rep. Chellie Pingree and Rep. Kim Schrier, along with the 16 other members of the Task Force, sent a letter to the House Agriculture Committee urging them to protect the nearly $20 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate-smart agriculture programs in the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill.

"The $19.5 billion in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) investments for Farm Bill Title II conservation programs and technical assistance within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is critical to fighting climate change, and the next Farm Bill represents a significant opportunity to strengthen climate-resilience," wrote the SEEC Climate and Agriculture Task Force.

"This Congress, the Task Force's mission is to ensure that the $19.5 billion in climate-focused conservation funds remain dedicated to our producers through the Farm Bill. Further, the ever-increasing demand for these USDA programs demonstrates the need to make these funds part of the baseline mandatory funding within the Farm Bill with expanded support wherever possible for other climate-smart agriculture and conservation opportunities that will benefit generations to come. The Task Force released a report on policy recommendations to ensure the Farm Bill is as climate-friendly as possible. Additional opportunities to support climate-smart agriculture in the Farm Bill can be found in this report."

The letter can be found here.