Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA), legislation that BIO’s long supported for its ability to help farmers help the planet
In a nutshell, the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA) would create a voluntary, producer-led certification program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provide farmers with technical resources to participate in the markets.
Inside baseball: The legislation passed the Senate yesterday 92-8, with 54 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill was first introduced in 2020, and reintroduced this year with support from 175+ agricultural and environmental organizations, including BIO.
BIO championed this bill from the start, leading a BIOAction campaign to drive support—which we know helped get it passed. (So, thanks for your help!)
Dr. Michelle’s Diagnosis: This bill is at the heart of everything we fight for at BIO and proves that climate action and economic growth can go hand in hand. It will encourage farmers and ranchers to use biotechnology breakthroughs to reduce emissions and deploy their land in the fight against climate change. It will bring greater value to the biobased economy and allow those across the biotech ecosystem—from farmers to renewable chemical developers and biobased manufacturers—to reliably demonstrate the true environmental benefit of carbon-reducing technologies in agriculture. – BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath
The next steps: Now, it’s up to the House. BIO will work with our companies and partners in the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) to encourage passage in the House.
Also: Senate Finance considered key nominees yesterday for HHS and USTR, including Jayme White for Deputy United States Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, Labor, and Environment.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked White about Mexico: “Last month when Ambassador Tai appeared before the Committee, I asked for her commitment to address Mexico’s failure to issue biotech import approvals and its decree to phaseout imports of biotech corn for human consumption. I was pleased to see Ambassador Tai emphasize the importance of science and risk-based regulatory approaches in her conversations during the USMCA free trade commission meeting. As Deputy USTR, are you of the same frame of mind to be able to commit to enforcing USMCA’s SPS and biotechnology provisions to prevent disruption to North American grain markets and on farm innovation?”
White’s response: “Yes, and if confirmed I look forward to working with my colleagues at USTR and Secretary Vilsack’s team to address this issue.” Watch around 1:13:50.
More Agriculture and Environment News:
AFP: Crushing climate impacts to hit sooner than feared: draft UN report
“Climate change will fundamentally reshape life on Earth in the coming decades, even if humans can tame planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, according to a landmark draft report from the UN's climate science advisors obtained by AFP.”
More Health Care News:
The Washington Post (Opinion): Here’s why we approved the first new Alzheimer’s drug in two decades
“The decision to approve this drug was based on rigorous science, with thorough evaluation of data from clinical studies,” write Patrizia Cavazzoni, Director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER); Billy Dunn, Director of CDER’s Office of Neuroscience; and Peter Stein, Director of CDER’s Office of New Drugs.