06.24.21

Hoeven Statement After Senate Approves Bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate approved the Growing Climate Solutions Act, bipartisan legislation to help agriculture producers participate in voluntary carbon credit markets.

“Our farmers and ranchers do a tremendous job providing food, fuel and fiber to meet our needs and they do so with good environmental stewardship,” said Hoeven. “This legislation removes barriers and provides producers with the opportunity, if they choose, to participate in carbon credit markets and to be rewarded for their environmental efforts. We’ll continue working to ensure that participation in these carbon markets remains voluntary and that they are farmer-friendly.”

Specifically, the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA):

  • Establishes a Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Certification Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote voluntary farmer participation in carbon credit markets.  
    • The program would regulate third-party verifiers and companies, which would work with farmers to certify credit-generating farm practices.
  • Requires USDA to report to Congress on barriers to market entry, challenges raised by farmers, market performance, and suggestions on where USDA can make a positive contribution to the further adoption of voluntary carbon sequestration practices.

Hoeven is a cosponsor of the legislation, which is supported by more than 175 organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union and U.S Cattlemen’s Association. 

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