The American Farm Bureau Federation will strongly oppose the Boxer-Kerry climate change bill introduced in the Senate last Wednesday. AFBF President Bob Stallman says America's farmers and ranchers did not fare that well in the House-passed climate change bill and they fare even worse in the Senate bill. Stallman says this bill does not realistically address America's energy needs and must be defeated by Congress.
The bill seeks to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade program. The legislation would require greenhouse gas emissions to be cut 20% by 2020 from 2005 levels. Stallman said the target is unrealistic and will lead to higher energy bills for all consumers.
Another major concern for Farm Bureau is that the Boxer-Kerry bill would not prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from continuing to move forward to fully regulate all greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The bill also does nothing to provide alternative sources of energy to fill the energy deficit left by the reduction in fossil fuels, nor does it prevent the EPA from using controversial indirect land use principles that penalize ethanol.