Bustos Helps Advance Build Back Better Act through Agriculture Committee

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, helped pass the Build Back Better Act out of committee -- sending it to the House Floor for final passage.

Congresswoman Bustos secured sweeping wins for hardworking Illinoisans in the package, including provisions that align with her America Grows Act, Rebuild Rural America Act, and Next Generation Fuels Act.

"The Build Back Better Act puts rural America front and center. From rebuilding our communities to fighting climate change and keeping us competitive with China, this bill will bring rural America to the next level," Congresswoman Bustos said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in the future of our nation and I'm proud to move this legislative package forward."

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congresswoman Bustos worked to secure a number of critical victories:

$2.59 billion in funding for the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, to carry out agricultural education, extension and research relating to climate change, and provide grants for the construction, acquisition, and modernization of agricultural research facilities.
$250 million in funding for the Agricultural Research Service, to carry out agricultural research relating to climate change, including through climate hubs, long-term agroecosystem research, nutrient uses and outcomes, soil carbon data collection and other related agricultural climate science.
$45 million in funding for the Economic Research Service,to carry out economic analysis and economic agricultural research relating to climate change.
$40 million in funding for the National Agricultural Statistics Survey, to carry out data collection and agricultural research relating to climate change.
A total of $2.94 billion in funding for agricultural research at USDA over the next 10 years, to support robust investments in innovative research in order to outcompete China and tackle the climate crisis, consistent with Congresswoman Bustos' America Grows Act.
Support for the Rural Partnership Program, modeled after Congresswoman Bustos' Rebuild Rural America Act, which would create a grant program to support and implement locally-developed rural regional revitalization plans.
$960 million for biofuels infrastructure, to help fuel retailers to upgrade their underground storage tanks to handle higher blends of ethanol. Alongside Congresswoman Axne and Craig, Congresswoman Bustos was proud to lead the effort for increased biofuels support. Congresswoman Bustos' Next Generation Fuels Act can go hand-in-hand with the Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program created by this legislation.

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