Crockett and Miller Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the Farm Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) and Congressman Max Miller (OH-07) introduced the bipartisan Farm to Fuselage Act that would update the Farm Bill to facilitate increased domestic production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. As the House Agriculture Committee begins drafting text for the 2023 Farm Bill, Crockett and Miller are making it clear to the Committee that supporting Sustainable Aviation Fuels ("SAF") is a critical bipartisan priority.

SAF is an advanced biofuel made from feedstocks including byproducts of certain crops, that replace traditional jet fuel, allowing planes to fly with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions. Many airlines have made public commitments to significantly ramp up their usage of SAF, but currently the domestic supply will not meet the demand, and what is produced is often from feedstocks that do not come from crop byproduct, cutting farmers out of a significant source of diversified revenue.

"We are all feeling the heat in what has turned out to be the hottest summer in human history," said Rep. Crockett. "Farmers are feeling the effects of unprecedented drought conditions. Workers in every sector are experiencing harms to their health, and are even dying, because of this heat. In response, many airlines are making commendable commitments to transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuel, but to do that we have got to address two big hurdles. First, we need to make sure we’re actually producing enough SAF to meet the growing demand, because right now, we are not. Second, we need to make sure American farmers have the tools they need for producing SAF feedstock to make financial sense, because we need American Agriculture to be a part of this supply chain. That is why I am proud to introduce this bill to give farmers more diverse revenue streams and to build out Sustainable Aviation Fuel production capacity to meet the rising demand for decades to come."

"Farm-to-fly programs will play a critical role in ensuring America’s farmers have new, robust markets for their agricultural products through the foreseeable future," said Rep. Miller. "This is good for our agriculture and rural economies, and it is good for American consumers, who are sure to benefit from more American energy production. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation, which will play an important role in achieving these goals."

Specifically, the bill would:

• Increase SAF expertise on research coordination boards at USDA.
• Ensure bio-based USDA education programs include SAF.
• Address barriers to SAF refiners receiving equitable payouts from USDA.
• Remove hurdles to farmers receiving BCAP funds for producing feedstock for SAF.
• Eliminate barriers currently dissuading farmers from growing SAF feedstock on otherwise fallow land.
• Direct USDA to report to Congress on any additional ways to break down barriers to farmers producing SAF feedstock.

Read the full text of the bill here.

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Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett represents portions of Dallas and Tarrant Counties, with the cities of Dallas, Grand Prairie, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Wilmer, Arlington, Ovilla, and Seagoville.