Bipartisan Legislation Would Strengthen USDA’s BioPreferred Program

By Lynn L. Bergeson and Carla N. Hutton
 
On July 24, 2023, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act to strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred program. According to Klobuchar’s July 24, 2023, press release, the bill would:

• Strengthen markets for farmers while also supporting well-paying manufacturing jobs;
• Allow the Secretary of Agriculture to set acceptable price premiums under the program;
• Require each federal agency to increase their procurement of biobased-only contracts or biobased volume purchased under those contracts; and
• Improve reporting of biobased products that are purchased through online federal procurement systems.