Big boost for USDA in Senate budget proposal

The budget plan unveiled by Senate Democrats on Monday would increase USDA spending by $135 billion over a decade, equal to a 9% increase from pre-pandemic levels. The money would be directed to projects ranging from child nutrition to clean energy and climate mitigation, said a memo from the Senate Budget Committee.

“The budget resolution will allow the Senate to make the most significant investment in tackling the climate crisis in U.S. history and put America on a path to meet President Biden’s climate change goals of 80% clean electricity and 50% economy-wide carbon emissions reductions by 2030,” said the memo.

If the resolution is enacted, the Senate Agriculture Committee would be responsible for expanding USDA spending by an average $13.7 billion a year in six areas: agriculture conservation, drought, and forestry programs; to help reduce carbon emissions and prevent wildfires; rural development and rural co-op clean energy investments; agricultural climate research and research infrastructure; Civilian Climate Corps funding; child nutrition and debt relief.

To read the memo, click here.