House Neglects Protection of IRA Climate Funds
TL/DR –
The House of Representatives has proposed a bill to fund the government through March 2025, which also includes a year-long extension of the 2018 Agriculture Innovation Act (also known as the farm bill) and $10 billion in additional aid for farmers and ranchers. However, the bill does not safeguard $14 billion in conservation funds centered on combating climate change, which are at risk if the Inflation Reduction Act is repealed. Melissa Kaplan, senior manager of government affairs for the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, argues that the climate-focused funds help farmers increase their resilience to extreme weather conditions, and should therefore be protected.
House Releases Funding Legislation, Frustrates Climate Advocates
Today, the House of Representatives unveiled legislation to finance the government until March 2025, incorporating a year-long extension of the 2018 Agriculture Innovation Act, or farm bill. This includes $10 billion in extra support for farmers and ranchers.
Regrettably, the House bill doesn’t safeguard roughly $14 billion in climate-centric conservation funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) within the farm bill’s baseline funding. This exposes the funds to potential loss if the IRA is repealed, causing disappointment among climate advocates, including the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Melissa Kaplan, Senior Government Affairs Manager for the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, expressed discontent:
“Congress should be working on equipping farmers to better withstand and recover from extreme weather, while not inciting new trade wars under the incoming administration,” she said.
“Farmers are increasingly vulnerable due to climate change-induced extreme weather and harmful farming practices. Public sentiment is aligned with this view where 80% of respondents endorse aiding farmers in proactive efforts to adapt and guard their land and crops against the ravages of flooding and drought, rather than responding post-disaster,” added Kaplan.
“The climate-centric conservation funds from the IRA bolster farmers’ resilience against severe weather such as droughts and floods. It’s crucial for Congress to secure the remaining IRA funds to continue enhancing farmers’ climate resilience,” Kaplan concluded.
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