Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, questioning how the USDA funded the recently created Climate-Smart Commodities (CCC) pilot program.
The letter expressed concerns about the program, as it was created with no direction from Congress and uses $2.8 billion in funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation, with plans for an expected second portion, bringing total funding to $3.5 billion.
“We are dismayed by the lack of transparency and congressional consultation throughout the development of this process,” the lawmakers wrote. “In no way can $3.5 billion be considered a ‘pilot program,’ and there must be direct congressional involvement before a program of this magnitude is implemented.”
The letter states there may be projects worthy of being funded, but it questions why USDA is going to partner organizations “rather than going directly to aid farmers or ranchers in this difficult farm economy when many are struggling with rising input costs, drought, and an ongoing supply chain crisis.”
