{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=619A9603-731B-48D1-B484-543D56B45540", "Klobuchar, Slotkin, Ernst, Ricketts Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen American Biomanufacturing", "2025-08-13", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act to create jobs and create new markets for our farmers by strengthening the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred program, a program designed to promote the use of domestic biobased products.\n\nBiobased products are derived from raw materials such as plants and other renewable agricultural materials and provide an alternative to conventional petroleum derived products like plastic.\n\n\u201cBiomanufacturing is crucial for developing new commodity markets, driving economic growth, and creating jobs,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to support our farmers while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels with Senator Ernst, Senator Ricketts, and Senator Slotkin.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs our farmers deal with all kinds of changes, we must work to open up new markets and new opportunities for our farmers in Michigan to sell their products,\u201d said Slotkin. \u201cIn Michigan, we grow things and we are really good at it. But forces beyond a farmer\u2019s control often make reaching new markets difficult. Our bill works to strengthen USDA\u2019s programs around biobased products so that we support our farmers and improve their ability to sell their products to biobased producers.\u201d\n\n\u201cFarms, ranches, and agri-businesses are the economic backbone of Nebraska and America. This bill strengthens markets and encourages innovation,\u201d said Ricketts. \u201cIt promotes value-added agriculture. That\u2019s a win for consumers, the environment, and for farmers and ranchers.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, we\u2019ve allowed China and other foreign nations to eat our lunch in biomanufacturing,\u201d said Ernst. \u201cAs leaders in corn and soybean production, Iowa\u2019s farmers are uniquely positioned to supply the ag feedstocks used to make biobased products and play a key role in reshoring valuable manufacturing jobs. I\u2019m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to reduce our reliance on our adversaries while supporting our farmers and jobs in Iowa.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs global demand grows for homegrown solutions, the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act provides a critical opportunity to strengthen America\u2019s leadership in the bioeconomy,\u201d said James Glueck, Executive Director of the Plant Based Products Council. \u201cBy modernizing USDA\u2019s BioPreferred Program, this legislation not only supports the adoption of plant-based products but also creates good-paying jobs, drives rural economic growth, and delivers meaningful environmental benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Corn Refiners Association is proud to support this legislative effort and looks forward to working with Congress, industry stakeholders, and rural leaders to ensure the continued advancement of the U.S. bioeconomy,\u201d said John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association. \u201cThis legislation responds to growing consumer demand for American-made, corn-derived bioproducts. It\u2019s a smart investment in manufacturing, rural economies, and our national competitiveness.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American ag bioeconomy is poised to be a tremendous economic success story by offering new revenue streams for farmers and new product options for consumers,\u201d said Ag Bioeconomy Coalition spokesperson Kent Roberson. \u201cStrong policy to support the next generation of biobased products will ensure that the investments made in today\u2019s industry are returned through tomorrow\u2019s global leadership in this growing industry. ABC welcomes this legislation and stands ready to assist Congress in efforts to sign it into law.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by, Agriculture Energy Coalition, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, Clean Fuels Alliance American, Corn Refiners Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, National Industrial Hemp Council of America, National Hemp Association, Plant Based Product Council, National Oilseed Producers Association and Renewable Fuels Association.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would:\n\nStrengthen markets for farmers while also supporting good-paying manufacturing jobs.\n\nStrengthen the USDA BioPreferred label to improve consumer confidence in biobased product quality.\n\nRequire each federal agency to increase their procurement of biobased-only product contracts or biobased volume purchased under those contracts.\n\nImprove reporting of biobased products that are purchased through online federal procurement systems.\n\nRead the bill\u2019s full text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:02:47Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=619A9603-731B-48D1-B484-543D56B45540"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.1312170904129744, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}