James Risch voted Yea (Passage) on this Legislation.
Read statements James Risch made in this general time period.
Title: Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021
Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a program to reduce barriers to entry for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners in certain voluntary markets.
Authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a voluntary Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Certification Program to help reduce entry barriers into voluntary environmental credit markets for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners (Sec. 2).
Defines “voluntary environmental credit market” as a market through which agriculture and forestry credits may be bought or sold (Sec. 2).
Specifies that the following entities shall be eligible to participate in the aforementioned program, including (Sec. 2):
Providers of technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, or private forest landowners in carrying out sustainable land use management practices that prevent, reduce, or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, or sequester carbon; or
Third-party verifiers that conduct the verification of the processes described in the protocols for voluntary environmental credit markets.
Requires the USDA publish the following information, including (Sec. 2):
A list of protocols and qualifications for eligible entities;
Information describing how entities may self-certify under the program;
Information describing how entities may obtain the expertise to meet the protocols and qualifications; and
Instructions and suggestions to assist farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners in facilitating the development of agriculture or forestry credits and accessing voluntary environmental credit markets.
Requires the USDA to establish an advisory council to make recommendations regarding the list of protocols and qualifications, best practices, and voluntary environmental credit markets (Sec. 2).
Rescinds certain funds provided in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and makes funds available for the certification program (Sec. 2).
Title: Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021