Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 – Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Friday applauded a historic $1.5 billion investment in conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The funding, championed by Stabenow, was made available through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Stabenow said: “This funding will support innovative projects that are driven by local farmers and their partners who have the most at stake when it comes to taking care of our land and water. It’s an investment in the efforts of small businesses, local governments, farmers and ranchers, and conservation leaders to improve water quality and create new habitats for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.”
Chairwoman Stabenow authored the RCPPP program in the 2014 Farm Bill, creating a first-of-its-kind approach to conservation through local partnerships between agriculture and conservation groups to improve water quality, restore habitats, and protect the Great lakes. In the IRA, Stabenow championed a $20 billion investment in popular, voluntary conservation programs that farmers and ranchers want, use, and need, which included nearly $5 billion for RCPP. These locally led partnerships leverage private and public dollars to address regional conservation issues.
In the 2024 Farm Bill, Chairwoman Stabenow is working to continue and improve this important program.
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