2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Package,
Which Included The Growing Climate Solutions Act And Established A
Framework For Voluntary Environmental Credit Markets To Incentivize The
Agriculture Industry To Reduce And Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
In December 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick
voted to concur with the Senate amendment to the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023, which would "establish a framework for
voluntary environmental credit markets to incentivize activities by
farmers, ranchers and foresters to reduce or mitigate greenhouse gas
emission or sequester carbon." The vote was on a motion to concur. The
House concurred with the Senate amendment by a vote of 225-201, thus
bill was sent to President Biden and ultimately became law. [House Vote
549, 12/23/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/23/22; Congressional
Actions, S.Amdt.
6552;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2617]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Included The Growing Climate Solutions Act,
Which Would Support "Farmers Measure And Verify Greenhouse Gas
Reductions" By Encouraging Third-Party Conservation Vendors To
Partner With Farmers And The Department Of Agriculture. According
to E&E News, "A bill to help farmers measure and verify greenhouse
gas reductions was included in an omnibus spending package released
early Tuesday morning. House Republican aides said the agreement on
the 'Growing Climate Solutions Act' takes into account the demands
of the incoming chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Glenn
Thompson of Pennsylvania, who'd sought what he called a more
farmer-friendly approach to the measure's proposed network of
third-party conservation vendors. The climate bill, which would
encourage the vendors to partner with farmers and the Department of
Agriculture, was introduced in the House and Senate by Rep. Abigail
Spanberger (D-Va.), Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and others in April
2021." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
The Growing Climate Solutions Act Within The FY 2023 Omnibus Would
Establish A Registry Of Third-Party Vendors Whom Farmers Could
Partner With To Measure Carbon Benefits Of Several Farm Practices,
Which Would Also Support Voluntary Carbon Markets. According to
E&E News, "The newly negotiated version would create a registry of
third-party vendors whom farmers could consult to help measure the
carbon benefits of various farm practices, with the idea of
supporting voluntary carbon markets. But it wouldn't certify the
consultants through the Agriculture Department as the introduced
bills proposed." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
Unlike The Version That Passed The Senate In 2021, The Growing
Climate Solutions Act In The FY 2023 Omnibus Would Not Certify The
Consultants Through The Department Of Agriculture To Ensure It Was
More Farmer-Focused. According to E&E News, "But it wouldn't
certify the consultants through the Agriculture Department as the
introduced bills proposed. The initial bill, Thompson has said, was
too focused on certifying vendors, who might benefit more
financially from the bill than the farmers they served." [E&E News,
12/20/22]
The Growing Climate Solutions Act In The FY 2023 Omnibus Sought To
Benefit Producers Mainly By Requiring The Agriculture Secretary To
Guarantee Fair Distribution Of Revenues To Farmers From Sold Credits
In The Program. According to E&E News, "The bill also aims to
direct benefits mainly to producers, partly by requiring the
Agriculture secretary to ensure that farmers receive fair
distribution of revenues from any sales of credits related to the
program." [E&E News,
12/20/22]