The senior Republican on the House Agriculture Committee accused the USDA of exceeding its authority — “We’re the ones that authorize programs”— by launching a $1 billion initiative to develop climate-smart commodities on Tuesday. A senior Republican on the committee joined the attack, asking, “How can a $1 billion program even be described as a pilot program?”
“That’s not the way we do things in agriculture,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn Thompson, the GOP leader on the committee, after describing the USDA as “a lone wolf” that failed to consult with lawmakers. “We’re the ones who authorize programs, you are the ones who execute those. I’m not sure some of you folks recognize that.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities on Monday in the face of skeptical congressional Republicans, who voted against President Biden’s climate and social programs bill. The public-private partnerships, expected to get underway this summer, would provide incentives for producers and landowners to implement climate-smart practices on working lands, measure and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas benefits of the practices, develop markets for the commodities and promote use of them.
“This is a commodity program as it is specifically linked to commodity production,” said Agriculture Undersecretary Robert Bonnie at a Capitol Hill hearing. Responding to Thompson’s complaint of “radio silence” from USDA as it assembled the project, he said, “We’ve tried to listen to agriculture as much as we can. We welcome the conversation going forward.”
“We got a curve ball,” said California Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who said climate mitigation would be a burden on farmers. Bonnie, however, said participation in the climate-smart pilots would be voluntary. LaMalfa said the initiative “might be looked at as a new program” and asked how it could be considered a demonstration project given its size.
Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee stood with Bonnie. “Consider me a strong supporter,” said Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree.
Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger urged passage of the so-called Growing Climate Solutions bill, which would create a USDA database of climate-friendly practices and a certification system for contractors that verify carbon sequestration. “It’s clear it should move forward to a vote,” she said. The Senate passed the bill, 92-8, last year, but the bill is stalled in the House.
“Producers need good information,” said Bonnie.
Thompson and LaMalfa voted in January 2020 to overturn Biden’s election.
To read Bonnie’s written testimony, click here.
To watch a video of the hearing, click here.