Republican congressman reintroduces bipartisan Farm to Fly Act

With a number of both Democrat and Republican cosponsors, U.S. Congressman Max Miller, R-Ohio, reintroduced the Farm to Fly Act to create new, robust markets for American agricultural products and strengthen domestic energy resources.

The Farm to Fly Act was largely adopted within the 2024 House agriculture committee farm bill.

The bill would foster the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within existing USDA programs, allow for greater collaboration, and ensure USDA’s SAF definitions reflect eligibility for American agricultural crops. 

“The Farm to Fly Act will provide access to new markets for our nation’s farmers, drive rural economic development and strengthen our domestic energy resources,” Miller said. “I’m grateful for the close collaboration between my colleagues, Ohio and American agricultural producers, and the aviation industry. I look forward to seeing this through to lift American farmers to new heights and strengthen our nation’s energy supply.” 

Specifically, the Farm to Fly Act would:  

• Clarify eligibility for SAF within current USDA bioenergy programs expanding markets for American agricultural crops through aviation bioenergy.

• Provide for greater collaboration for aviation biofuels throughout USDA agency mission areas, increasing private-sector partnerships.

• Affirm a common definition of SAF for USDA purposes, as widely supported by industry and congressional leaders to enable U.S. crops to most effectively contribute to aviation renewable fuels. 

The full bill text is available here. 

Miller was joined by Reps. Mike Flood, R-Nebraska; Brad Finstad, R-Minnesota; Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois; Claudia Tenney, R-New York; Tracey Mann, R-Kansas; Mike Bost, R-Illinois; Don Bacon, R-Nebraska; Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa; Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota; Mark Alford, R-Missouri; Eric Sorensen, D-Illinois; Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa; and Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota; as original cosponsors.

The Senate companion bill, S. 144, was introduced in January.

“Making the eligibility criteria for SAF at USDA clearer is a great step forward on this journey,” Flood said.

Feenstra added, “Homegrown biofuels are critical to American energy independence and sustainable aviation fuel is vital to the future of air travel. By converting agricultural biomass into airplane fuel, Iowa farmers and producers will benefit from new markets, and we can use domestic energy—instead of foreign oil—to power our planes.”

Alison Graab, executive director of the SAF Coalition, said, “Sustainable aviation fuel is rooted in America’s agricultural sector. The Farm to Fly Act expands opportunities for U.S. farmers and strengthens USDA’s role in SAF development—enhancing our energy dominance, driving rural economic growth, and reinforcing American innovation in fuel production.”