BIOCHAR Act of 2021
Latest action · Jun 15, 2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedApr 15, 2021
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Biochar Innovations and Opportunities for Conservation, Health, and Advancements in Research Act of 2021 or the BIOCHAR Act of 2021
This bill establishes two temporary programs to encourage research, development, and commercialization of biochar. This is carbonized biomass produced by converting plant matter through reductive thermal processing for nonfuel uses.
First, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) must fund biochar demonstration projects through state, tribal, or local governments; land-grant colleges or universities; or private, nonprofit, or cooperative entities. In selecting projects, the departments must prioritize, for example, projects that (1) have the greatest potential for carbon sequestration; and (2) create new jobs and economic benefits, particularly in rural areas. Projects may use funds for various activities, including developing commercially and technologically viable biochar production units and demonstrating cost-effective market opportunities for biochar and biochar-based products. At least 50% of the plant matter used in a project must come from forest thinning and management activities on National Forest System land. In addition, USDA and DOE must conduct research related to the biochar produced from the projects.
Second, USDA must establish a grant program for land-grant colleges and universities to conduct applied research on environmental and economic benefits of biochar.
For the duration of the two programs, USDA and DOE must periodically report to Congress about issues related to commercialization of biochar and the status of the programs. The programs terminate after 10 years.
Cosponsors 5
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Apr 15, 2021 to Jan 11, 2022, with 3 there on the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-AR | Bruce Westerman | Original | Apr 15, 2021 |
| R-WA | Dan Newhouse | Original | Apr 15, 2021 |
| R-AZ | Paul A. Gosar | Original | Apr 15, 2021 |
| R-CA | Doug LaMalfa | May 4, 2021 | |
| R-IA | Mariannette Miller-Meeks | Jan 11, 2022 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Jun 15, 2021Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
- Apr 15, 2021Introduced in House
- Apr 15, 2021Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 2639 | Trillion Trees Act | Related bill | Jun 15, 2021 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Agriculture and Food.
- Advanced technology and technological innovations
- Agricultural practices and innovations
- Agricultural research
- Agriculture and Food
- Air quality
- Alternative and renewable resources
- Climate change and greenhouse gases
- Congressional oversight
- Ecology
- Economic development
- Environmental technology
- Fires
- Forests, forestry, trees
- Mining
- Pollution liability
- Research administration and funding
- Research and development
- Rural conditions and development
- Technology transfer and commercialization
- Watersheds
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Apr 15, 2021Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.
