Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9217
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-29T12:29:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation establishes a framework for federal support of research and extension activities focused on natural climate solutions in agriculture and land management. It seeks to advance practices that enhance carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across specific ecosystems.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(d)) by adding a new subsection (21) on "Natural climate solutions."
- Authorizes research and extension grants for land management practices in agricultural lands and soils, grasslands, wetlands, and forests that store carbon or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Specifies that eligible practices may include those based on traditional ecological knowledge, those that promote biodiversity and climate change resilience, and those that reduce runoff.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new high-priority category for grants under an existing USDA research and extension program, expanding the scope of authorized activities without altering prior grant authorities.
- Integrates climate-focused criteria into the statutory list of eligible research topics, emphasizing natural land-based approaches.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Directs the Department of Agriculture to prioritize and administer grants for these topics, potentially requiring updates to grant application processes and evaluation criteria.
- On citizens: Supports farmers, ranchers, and land managers through research and extension services that could inform voluntary adoption of climate-related practices.
- On international relations: No direct provisions affect foreign policy or treaties, though the focus on carbon storage may align with broader global climate efforts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Agricultural producers and landowners who may benefit from funded research and extension.
- Researchers and extension specialists at universities and institutions eligible for grants.
- Indigenous communities and knowledge holders, due to explicit inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge.
- Environmental and conservation organizations interested in biodiversity and emissions reduction.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Operates under Congress's authority to authorize spending for agricultural research, consistent with existing statutes.
- Raises no apparent constitutional conflicts, as it builds on established USDA programs without mandating private actions or creating new regulatory requirements.
- Politically, it promotes voluntary, incentive-based approaches to climate mitigation in rural and natural resource sectors.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (2 pages)