Sen. Mike Braun, center, discusses his Growing Climate Solutions Act in a meeting with ICGA President Mike Beard, far left, ISA Board member Craig Williams, left, and ICGA Board member Mike Nichols and his wife, Debra. Sen. Braun’s legislation was approved in the Senate by a 92-8 vote on June 24. The House will now consider the proposal.
ISA, ICGA tout U.S. Senate’s approval of Growing Climate Solutions Act BY DAVE BLOWER JR.
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he Growing Climate Solutions Act received overwhelming approval with a 92-8 vote Change to DATE on the floor of the U.S. Senate on June 24. Also known as Senate Bill 1251 and sponsored by Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the proposal creates a certification program at USDA to help eliminate entry barriers to farmer and landowner participation in carbon credit markets. Earlier this month, Braun spoke with Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and Indiana Corn Growers Association (ICGA) members about the benefits of his proposal. “Market demand for carbon credits represents a significant opportunity for Indiana farmers to improve their annual income,” said Mike Beard, a Frankfort, Ind., farmer and ICGA president, who attended that meeting with Sen. Braun. “We are very happy with the Senate’s support of this bill, and we encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to take up the issue quickly and help farmers across the country.”
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INDIANA CORN & SOYBEAN POST
House Ag Committee members Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) have introduced a companion bill that eventually will be combined with the Growing Climate Solutions Act. “Farmers have always led the way on protecting our environment, and the Growing Climate Solutions Act helps them get paid for their sustainable practices through voluntary carbon credit markets,” Sen. Braun said. “Hoosiers and Americans want real-world solutions, and Growing Climate Solutions is a bipartisan, common-sense, pro-jobs win that farmers, industry leaders, and conservationists can all support – all without growing our government or our deficit.” According to Braun’s bill, the new USDA program would offer reliable information about carbon markets and access to qualified technical assistance providers for farmers and landowners. This bill establishes a Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Certification Program in the USDA to provide transparency,
