Despite the extension approved for farm bill consideration, the House takes up a bill aimed at boosting agriculture and energy research even as Congress lumbers toward the upcoming holiday break.
The DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act that the House will consider this week would authorize “cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities” between USDA and the Energy Department.
The issues the departments are directed to address include the life-cycle analysis of agricultural and energy systems; “advanced crop science, crop protection, breeding, and biological pest control;” advanced biofuel development; and colocation of renewable power projects and carbon storage with agricultural production.
The bill doesn't provide any additional funding, but requires DOE and USDA to provide a report within two years on what their collaboration has accomplished and the "potential opportunities to expand the technical capabilities" of the departments.
The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and ranking member Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., is being considered on the House suspension calendar, a fast-track process for relatively non-controversial bills. The measure needs a two-third majority to pass.
In a press release, Lucas said that leveraging DOE’s expertise and resources with USDA’s will ensure we are maximizing resources and federal research dollars, while overcoming challenges advancing production agriculture through transformative science and technology solutions.”