The House Agriculture Committee scheduled a meeting next week to review a climate-change bill the committee leadership has criticised. A priority of House Democratic leaders, the bill would set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020. House leaders aim for a floor vote on the bill later in June or in July.
The Agriculture Committee was to examine the climate bill on Thursday. No date was set to consider possible amendments. Some of the elements of the bill that have drawn rural objections are not within the committee's jurisdiction. Agriculture chairman Collin Peterson announced opposition to the bill a month ago on grounds he did not trust federal officials to treat ethanol fairly.
The committee's Republican leader, Frank Lucas, says the bill would drive up energy costs, especially in rural areas. Six farm groups, including wheat, corn and milk producers, say the climate bill should be modified to allow farmers and ranchers to earn money for steps that reduce carbon emissions.