Frank Niceley, a Tennessee State Senator, expressed concerns regarding the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its involvement with the Sustains Act. He said that the "USDA is monetizing natural processes under the Sustains Act." Niceley shared his views in a post on September 18 on X.
"USDA is Monetizing Natural Processes Under the Sustains Act," said Niceley.
According to Congress.gov, the Sustains Act enables private donations to support the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in expanding conservation initiatives. Donors have the option to choose specific programs or areas for their contributions, as outlined on the U.S. Congress website.
The American Stewards of Liberty (ASL), in an article on their website, said that the Sustains Act allows the USDA Secretary, in collaboration with private donors, to determine ownership of environmental services such as clean air without input from landowners.
ASL further said that monetizing natural processes under this act contradicts free-market principles since prices for these resources are determined subjectively by the current administration.
According to his election website biography, Niceley has served as a Tennessee state senator since 2021 and is actively working to prevent the inclusion of a State Property Tax in the Tennessee Constitution.
