Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Republicans today released their version of a framework for the 2024 farm bill. The Senate Republican framework weakens climate investments, cuts bedrock environmental laws to expedite logging projects, and jeopardizes SNAP support for the poor and hungry.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow released her version of the critical legislation last month, including important provisions and funding for climate-smart agriculture and forestry, and compiling more than 100 bipartisan bills into a single popular package.
The farm bill is the comprehensive legislative package that sets agricultural, food, and nutrition policy for the next five years. The last farm bill was meant to expire in September 2023, but Congress extended the deadline for a year.
In response, Sierra Club Lands Protection Program Director Athan Manuel released the following statement:
“A strong Farm Bill uplifts small and mid-size farmers, promotes climate-smart farming, expands nutrition programs, and protects our environment, but the Senate GOP’s version fails at each of those goals. We urge the Senate to move forward with Chair Stabenow’s version that prioritizes healthy communities and invests public money back into the public.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.