June 24, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC – The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) strongly supports the final passage of S. 1251, the Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021. This bipartisan legislation reduces technical entry barriers for producers and forest owners interested in participating in voluntary carbon markets and supports our sector’s role in delivering innovative climate solutions. 

“The version of the Growing Climate Solutions Act approved by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is a critical innovation in government climate solutions,” said John Bode, CRA President & CEO. “Unfortunately, Amendment 2119 would undercut the central function of this bill by removing most of the scientific and good governance requirements for the USDA certification program. Without these critical protections, many farmers and producers would not have access to reliable information, resulting  in unrealistic cost estimates and loss of trust in the carbon markets.”

Amendment 2119 would also remove protections for farmers already certified under the program and would remove the legislation’s focus on equity that is intended to ensure farmers of color would benefit from the program and inform its creation. For these reasons, we strongly urge the Senate to vote no on the amendment and yes on final passage of S.1251, which reflects CRA’s climate change principles.

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The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, starch, advanced bioproducts, corn oil and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein and fiber.