NBAA cheers House passage of farm bill calling for new SAF development

The National Business Aviation Association welcomed April 30 the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of comprehensive farm-policy legislation that includes two key provisions recognizing the economic benefits from development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) derived from renewable agricultural feedstocks.

H.R.7567, the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, notably expands the existing biofuels category to explicitly include SAF for the first time.

The bill also calls on the secretary of the USDA to bolster advancement of the SAF supply chain through expanded growth and utilization of SAF feedstock crops.

The bill identifies SAF production as a key path for rural economic development and calls on USDA to identify opportunities to maximize SAF development by “leveraging the capabilities of America’s farmers, ranchers, foresters and producers to capture opportunities in the sustainable aviation fuels market.”

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen thanked members of the NBAA environmental committee who worked with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to recognize the many possible benefits to rural economies from growing SAF feedstocks.

“We are also grateful to see House lawmakers acknowledge not only the environmental benefits of sustainable aviation fuels, but also their potential for significant economic contributions to our country’s farmers and rural communities,” Bolen said.

“As the bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration, we urge that chamber to take prompt action to advance this important legislation into law,” he said.

Introduced by Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, the House ag-committee chairman, earlier this year, the overall bill aims to update U.S. agricultural policies, expand producer credits and strengthen rural communities, including by promoting public-private partnerships for the development, deployment and commercialization of biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels.

The bill can be read here.