The bill establishes a carbon tax on fossil fuel emissions starting at $35 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent in 2027, with annual increases based on inflation. It creates border tax adjustments for imports and exports of greenhouse gas-intensive products to prevent carbon leakage. Revenue from the tax would fund the Rebuilding Infrastructure and Solutions for the Environment Trust Fund, which would distribute funds for infrastructure projects, climate adaptation, and assistance for displaced energy workers. The tax would directly affect fossil fuel producers, manufacturers, and importers/exporters of covered goods.
# Summary of the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
This proposed legislation contains comprehensive provisions to enhance agricultural resilience, reduce food waste, and promote sustainable farming practices. Key components include:
1. **Conservation Programs**:
- Enhanced conservation reserve program with new "Grassland 30" contracts for long-term grassland protection
- Private grazing land conservation assistance focusing on soil health, climate resilience, and advanced grazing management
- Support for producers transitioning from confinement systems to managed grazing
2. **Food Waste Reduction**:
- Standardized "quality date" (BEST If Used By) and "discard date" (USE By) labeling requirements
- Mandatory food donation clauses for Federal contracts over $10,000
- School food waste reduction grant program for local educational agencies
- National media campaigns to decrease food waste incidence
3. **Sustainable Agriculture Practices**:
- Establishment of agrivoltaic systems (combining solar energy with agriculture)
- Alternative manure management program to reduce methane emissions
- Composting recognized as a conservation practice
- Support for anaerobic digestion systems to reduce methane emissions
4. **Renewable Energy**:
- Enhanced Rural Energy for America Program with carbon accounting requirements
- New provisions for agrivoltaic systems research and demonstration
- AgSTAR program transition to USDA for anaerobic digestion support
5. **Food Donation and Recovery**:
- Amendments to the Federal Food Donation Act requiring donation of excess food
- Grants for large-scale composting and anaerobic digestion food waste-to-energy projects
- Food Waste Research Program to coordinate nationwide efforts
The Act includes significant funding allocations for these programs (e.g., $50 million annually for grazing land conservation, $1.5 billion for alternative manure management, $100 million annually for composting/anaerobic digestion projects) with a focus on supporting beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged producers, and underserved communities.
HR 2140, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025, extends the expiration date of the existing Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program. It amends Section 797(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by changing the end date from 2024 to 2029. This bill does not create new programs or funding; it simply prolongs the current program's authorization period. The change affects the continuation of the existing federal program that supports state and local efforts to reduce diesel emissions from older vehicles.
The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change how it buys food for programs like school meals and food banks. The bill directs USDA to prioritize purchasing foods that support beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged producers, and environmentally sustainable practices, while emphasizing worker well-being and climate-friendly food production. USDA would need to report annually on how much it spends on these priority food categories and track greenhouse gas emissions from its food purchases. The bill also creates a pilot program for "best value" procurement that considers more than just cost, and provides grants to help small and minority farmers meet USDA vendor requirements. These changes aim to make USDA's $20 billion+ annual food procurement more equitable and environmentally sustainable.
The REAP Modernization Act of 2025 updates the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to better support rural agricultural and small business renewable energy projects. It requires the program to actively promote greenhouse gas emission reductions through funded projects, expands eligibility to include producer cooperatives and nongovernmental organizations, and increases the climate benefit consideration from 25% to 50% in project evaluations. The bill also establishes a streamlined application process, mandates a study on dual-use energy systems (combining farming with renewable energy on the same land), and adjusts funding rules to prioritize underutilized renewable technologies. These changes directly affect rural farmers, cooperatives, and small businesses seeking grants for solar, wind, or other renewable energy installations on agricultural properties.
The CAP Act of 2025 creates a competitive grant program administered by the EPA to help eligible entities - such as local governments, tribes, and tribal organizations - develop climate adaptation plans. These plans must assess climate risks to communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure while prioritizing input from environmental justice communities (defined as areas with significant low-income, minority, or Indigenous populations facing climate impacts). Applicants must demonstrate inclusion of low-income communities, include specific risk assessments, and integrate plans with existing local strategies like hazard mitigation or land use plans. The program requires no matching funds from recipients and mandates that plans address both greenhouse gas reduction and adaptation measures. It directly affects communities vulnerable to climate change, particularly those designated as environmental justice communities under the bill.
SRES 553 is a non-binding Senate resolution introduced on December 17, 2025, by Senators Whitehouse, Merkley, Schatz, Markey, Van Hollen, Duckworth, Padilla, Welch, and Blunt Rochester. It formally recognizes that climate change is real, citing decades of scientific evidence linking it to fossil fuel emissions. The resolution does not create new laws, impose requirements, or directly affect any specific groups - it serves solely as a declarative statement of scientific consensus. This is a procedural resolution with no legislative or policy impact.
The ACE Agriculture Act reauthorizes and expands the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act's AGARDA program, directly affecting USDA agricultural research initiatives and the scientists managing them. It increases annual funding from $50 million to $100 million for fiscal years 2027-2032 and broadens research priorities to include water conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, pest resilience, and export competitiveness. The bill removes "pilot" references throughout, clarifies reporting structures (requiring the AGARDA Director to report to the Chief Scientist), and allows flexible use of existing USDA personnel authorities. This creates a more permanent, well-funded framework for advancing agricultural technology research within the Department of Agriculture.
# Summary of the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
This comprehensive legislative proposal aims to transform U.S. agricultural systems to be more resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart while addressing food waste and improving food safety labeling.
## Key Provisions
### Conservation & Climate Resilience
- **Conservation Reserve Program** (Section 504): Expands enrollment targets through 2030 and establishes a new "Grassland 30" contract option for long-term grassland conservation.
- **Private Grazing Land Conservation** (Section 503): Focuses on soil health, climate resilience, and transitioning from confinement systems to managed grazing systems.
- **Alternative Manure Management Program** (Section 505): Supports dairy and livestock producers in adopting practices that reduce methane emissions and improve carbon sequestration.
### Renewable Energy
- **Rural Energy for America Program** (Section 601): Expands to support renewable energy development and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
- **Agrivoltaic Systems** (Section 602): Mandates research on integrated solar energy and agricultural production systems.
- **AgSTAR Program** (Section 603): Maintains and expands the anaerobic digestion program to reduce methane emissions from livestock waste.
### Food Loss & Waste Reduction
- **Standardized Food Date Labeling** (Section 701-705): Establishes uniform "BEST If Used By" (quality date) and "USE By" (discard date) phrases to reduce confusion and food waste.
- **Composting as Conservation Practice** (Section 711): Officially recognizes composting as a conservation practice under USDA programs.
- **Federal Food Donation Act Amendments** (Section 712): Requires federal contractors to donate excess food and report on food waste.
- **School Food Waste Reduction** (Section 714): Creates grant program for schools to measure, prevent, and reduce food waste.
- **Food Waste Research Program** (Section 716): Establishes regional research centers to study food waste reduction strategies.
### Funding
- Multiple funding allocations for conservation programs ($50 million/year for grazing land conservation, $1.5 billion for alternative manure management program).
- $20 million/year for meat processing system resilience grants (Section 502).
- $100 million/year for food waste-to-energy projects (Section 713).
This legislation represents a holistic approach to creating a more sustainable food system that addresses climate change, reduces food waste, supports farmers and ranchers, and improves consumer understanding of food labeling.
The Strong Farms, Strong Future Act amends the Conservation Stewardship Program to prioritize climate and soil health outcomes. It requires the Secretary of Agriculture to create "climate change mitigation bundles" - groups of conservation practices designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon sequestration - for different farm types (like cropland, pasture, and forest land) and ensures these bundles are equally available to organic and conventional farmers. The bill updates contract renewal rules to mandate producers adopt new conservation practices that improve soil health and reduce emissions over time, with payments tied to these outcomes. This directly affects farmers and ranchers enrolled in the program by changing eligibility for contract renewals and payments based on measurable environmental improvements.
