Agriculture Proposals from the 110th Congress
H.R. 1551: Healthy Farms, Foods, and Fuels Act of 2007. Among other provisions, the Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to consider the extent of proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions when awarding grants, loans, and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The Act also reauthorizes funds for research conducted through consortium for agricultural soils mitigation of GHGs. Sponsor: Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) (100 cosponsors)
H.R. 1600: Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (EAT Healthy America Act). Among other provisions, the Act amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to include conservation innovation grants for alternative energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in farm operations. Sponsor: Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) (87 cosponsors)
H.R. 2144: Farm, Nutrition, and Community Investment Act of 2007. Among other provisions, this bill would amend the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to certain universities in order to conduct research on carbon cycle, renewable energy, and climate change; and the bill authorizes $15 million a year for fiscal years 2008 through 2013 for the purpose. The bill also amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to establish grants for cellulosic ethanol projects, a farm and ranch energy efficiency rebate program, and authorizes funds for research in alternative uses for biofuel byproducts. In addition, the bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to direct each electric utility to make available upon request net metering to any electric consumer that the electric utility serves. Sponsor: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) (31 cosponsors)
H.R. 2154: Rural Energy for America Act of 2007. This bill, in expanding and extending the renewable energy systems and energy improvements program of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 through 2012, cites the existing program’s success in reducing CO2 emissions by more that 1.1 million tons annually. Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) (6 cosponsors)
H.R. 2218: Biofuels Energy Independence Act of 2007. This bill would create a Biofuels Feedstocks Energy Reserve, and authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make and guarantee loans for the production, distribution, development, and storage of biofuels. It cites the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional gasoline as a benefit of the use of grain-based and biomass ethanol. Sponsor: Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
H.R. 2401: NOURISH Act of 2007. This bill, among other provisions, amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to add alternative energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels in farm operations to those projects eligible for Conservation Innovation Grants. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) (33 cosponsors)
H.R. 2428: Biofuels Research Initiative Act of 2007. This bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to consortiums of land grant universities for bioenergy and biomass research; and one of the qualifying criteria for such grants is environmental assessment, including a climate change assessment of bioenergy production systems. Sponsor: Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX)
H.R. 2720: FARM 21 Act of 2007. Among other purposes, this bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with the purpose of increasing energy programs of the Department of Agriculture. Among other provisions, it would extend biorefinery grants and loans to eligible projects, and includes as a criteria for selection the extent to which projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sponsor: Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) (21 cosponsors)
S. 919: Healthy Farms, Foods, and Fuels Act of 2007. Among other provisions, the Act includes support for development of biorefineries, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to consider—when making award grants, loans and loans guarantees for biorefinery and methane digester projects—the extent to which projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among other criteria. Sponsor: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) (5 cosponsors)
S. 1422: Farm Risk Management Act for the 21st Century. Among other provisions intended to assist in the stabilization of farm income, and to promote investment in value-added farms as well as higher levels of environmental stewardship, this bill would amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants, loans, and loan guarantees for biorefinery development projects. The bill requires the Secretary to develop goals for greenhouse gas reductions to be achieved by such projects, and to considers such goal as criteria when selecting which projects will receive funds. Sponsor: Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-IN)
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