Build Back Better Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am so proud to rise in support of the Inflation Reduction Act.

As chair of the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, I am excited that this bill includes dedicated funding to further the role of Virginia's crop and livestock producers in our work to protect our planet.

Farmers are the original conservationists, and their expertise cannot be ignored if we are going to meet our shared climate goals while also bringing greater investments to rural America, strengthening our farmers' bottom lines, and lowering the cost of inputs.

We can make investments in our Nation's producers by investing in existing voluntary conservation programs at USDA, and that is what this legislation does.

I am proud that the conservation provisions in this bill reflect multiple pieces of legislation that I have championed to make possible, including my bipartisan REAP Improvement Act.

These provisions include stronger investments in the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP, and support our conservation workforce and our Natural Resources Conservation Service. These are smart investments for the bottom lines of our farmers.

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