NE Wyoming News

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Harriet Hageman has sent a letter to Terry Cosby, Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, in response to a request for information regarding the implementation of the Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to Incentivize Natural Solutions (SUSTAINS) Act. Hageman emphasized that the implementation must not infringe on landowners' rights or be manipulated by adversaries.

Representative Hageman stated, “the federal government is wading into a very dangerous situation by valuing and selling so-called ‘environmental services benefits,’ and these programs run a serious risk of infringing on the property rights of the underlying landowner, as well as destroying our ability to produce the energy and food we need to power our economy. While this law and policy should never have been adopted, to the extent that it is now in place, USDA can best serve the interests of the American people by ensuring transparency and protecting the landowner."

She further urged caution in implementing the SUSTAINS Act: “I urge USDA to approach the implementation of the SUSTAINS Act with the utmost caution to secure the rights of landowners and promote U.S. national security. With policies such as these, derived from natural capital accounting, the danger is in the details as we head down this irresponsible path of considering concepts to be real property that have a value that can be bought, sold, and traded separately from the underlying land. Private property rights are the bedrock of this nation, and USDA should operate in a manner that respects, secures and protects this fundamental right.”

Concerned citizens wishing to express their opinions on implementing the SUSTAINS Act have until close of business on Monday, September 16, 2024. Comments may be submitted at: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/usda-requests-public-input-on-implementation-of-sustains-act

Contact: Chris Berardi, Sr. Advisor/Communications Director