Welcome to my agriculture and energy newsletter! You can sign up for all my issue-specific newsletters as well as my weekly update here. Also, please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina.                 

Solutions for Farmers

In April, I was proud to join a large, bipartisan group of colleagues in sponsoring the Growing Climate Solutions Act. This bill works to break barriers for farmers so they can better participate in voluntary carbon markets, which reward low-carbon practices. It also creates an advisory council of agriculture experts, scientists, and others who will advise the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture on the developing carbon market landscape and the needs of our nation’s farmers.

Endorsed by dozens of leading agricultural organizations, this bill is a win for both our environment and our nation’s hard-working farmers. I look forward to seeing how it will bolster the agriculture industry in South Carolina and beyond.

Securing the Food Supply Chain

With foreign governments pushing down prices for perishable fruits and vegetables, imports have surged, leaving U.S. farmers unable to compete. If this trend continues, Americans could be forced to rely on foreign produce for half of the year or more. 

Back in February, as the Senate considered Katherine Tai’s nomination for U.S. trade representative, I questioned then-nominee Tai on how she would address the unfair trade practices that put American producers at a disadvantage.

Since then, I also joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending the ambassador a letter, urging her to provide relief for our seasonal producers and secure our food supply chain. You can read the letter here.

South Carolina’s Got Milk!

If you didn’t already know, milk is the official state beverage of South Carolina—not just because it tastes good, but also because it comprises a large section of our state’s agribusiness industry. Dairy farmers can be found in almost any of our 46 counties!

Yesterday, I cosponsored a resolution designating June 2021 as National Dairy Month. Hundreds of thousands of Americans benefit each day from the hard work of our dairy farmers, and this is a time for us to say thank you and reaffirm our commitment to the dairy industry.

Until next time,