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Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7567) to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2031, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2616) to require public elementary and middle schools that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to obtain parental consent before changing a minor's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 33) setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035; providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1318) to direct the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a program to identify American-Jewish servicemembers buried in United States military cemeteries overseas under markers that incorrectly represent their religion and heritage, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1346) to amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes; and for other purposes., committees such as Committee on Energy and Commerce, members such as Brett Guthrie.
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May 13, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1224, I call up the bill H.R. 1346, to amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Van Drew). Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, the bill is considered read.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1346
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. YEAR-ROUND E15 AND RFS REFORM.
(a) Ethanol Waiver.—
(1) Existing waivers.—Section 211(f)(4) of the Clean Air
Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(f)(4)) is amended—
(A) by striking “(4) The Administrator, upon” and
inserting the following:
“(4) Waivers.—
“(A) In general.—The Administrator, on”;
(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)—
(i) in the first sentence—
(I) by striking “of this subsection” each place it
appears; and
(II) by striking “if he determines” and inserting “if
the Administrator determines”; and
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking “The
Administrator” and inserting the following:
“(B) Final action.—The Administrator”; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
“(C) Reid vapor pressure.—A fuel or fuel additive may be
introduced into commerce if—
“(i)(I) the Administrator determines that the fuel or fuel
additive is substantially similar to a fuel or fuel additive
utilized in the certification of any model year vehicle
pursuant to paragraph (1)(A); or
“(II) the fuel or fuel additive has been granted a waiver
under subparagraph (A) and meets all of the conditions of
that waiver other than any limitation of the waiver with
respect to the Reid Vapor Pressure of the fuel or fuel
additive; and
“(ii) the fuel or fuel additive meets all other applicable
Reid Vapor Pressure requirements under subsection (h).”.
(2) Reid vapor pressure limitation.—Section 211(h) of the
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(h)) is amended—
(A) by striking “vapor pressure” each place it appears
and inserting “Vapor Pressure”;
(B) in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking “10 percent” and inserting “10 to 15
percent”; and
(C) in paragraph (5)(A)—
(i) by striking “Upon notification, accompanied by” and
inserting “On receipt of a notification that is submitted
after the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National
Security Act of 2026, and is accompanied by appropriate”;
(ii) by striking “10 percent” and inserting “10 to 15
percent”; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following: “Upon the
enactment of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of
2026, any State for which the notification from the Governor
of a State was submitted after January 1, 2022, and before
the date of enactment of the Farm, Food, and National
Security Act of 2026 and to which the Administrator applied
the Reid Vapor Pressure limitation established by paragraph
(1) shall instead have the Reid Vapor Pressure limitation
established by paragraph (4) apply to all fuel blends
containing gasoline and 10 to 15 percent denatured anhydrous
ethanol that are sold, offered for sale, dispensed, supplied,
offered for supply, transported, or introduced into commerce
in the area during the high ozone season.”.
(b) Definition of Small Refining Company.—Section
211(o)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(1)) is
amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (L) as subparagraph (M);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (K) the following:
“(L) Small refining company.—The term `small refining
company' means a company, entity, or group of affiliated
entities, including through subsidiaries, parent companies,
joint ventures, holding companies, spin-offs, or other
associated corporate or legal structures, the daily average
aggregate production of obligated fuels of which for calendar
year 2025 did not exceed 75,000 barrels per day across all of
the facilities of the company, entity, or group of affiliated
entities that produced transportation fuel subject to the
requirements of paragraph (2).”.
(c) Termination of Petitions; Adjusted Small Refining
Company Obligation.—
(1) In general.—Section 211(o)(9) of the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. 7545(o)(9)) is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (B)—
(i) in clause (i), by striking “A small” and inserting
“Subject to clause (iv), a small”; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
“(iv) Termination of exemption and petitions.—
“(I) In general.—Beginning in calendar year 2028, the
Administrator may not apply or enforce any extension of an
exemption granted pursuant to a petition under this
subparagraph or otherwise continue to enforce the exemption
under subparagraph (A) with respect to any small refinery.
“(II) Limitation on petitions.—Notwithstanding any other
provision of law—
“(aa) no small refinery may petition for an extension
under this subparagraph with respect to any calendar year
after calendar year 2027;
“(bb) the Administrator may not consider any petition for
an extension under this subparagraph, with respect to any
calendar year, that is submitted after July 1, 2028; and
“(cc) to the maximum extent practicable, the Administrator
shall, not later than October 1, 2028, act on all outstanding
petitions.”;
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
“(C) Adjusted compliance requirements for small refining
companies.—
“(i) In general.—Beginning in calendar year 2028, the
Administrator shall, subject to clause (ii), reduce the
compliance requirements of each small refining company under
paragraph (2) by 75 percent.
“(ii) No subsequent redesignation.—If the average
aggregate daily production of obligated fuels of a small
refining company exceeds the limit described in paragraph
(1)(L) in calendar year 2026 or any subsequent calendar year,
the small refining company shall no longer be eligible for
the adjusted compliance requirements under clause (i) during
that calendar year or any subsequent calendar year,
regardless of whether the average aggregate daily production
of obligated fuels of the small refining company drops below
that limit again.”.
(2) Savings provision.—Nothing in this Act or an amendment
made by this Act affects any remedy available to a small
refinery (as defined in paragraph (1) of section 211(o) of
the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o))) with respect to
petitions for extensions of exemptions under paragraph (9) of
that section and, for purposes of
the application of such extensions and the review of the
denial of such petitions, section 211(o)(9) of the Clean Air
Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(9)) shall be applied as in effect on
the day before the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Generation of Credits by Small Refineries Under the
Renewable Fuel Program.—Section 211(o)(9) of the Clean Air
Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(9)) is further amended by adding at
the end the following:
“(F) Credits generated for 2016-2018 compliance years.—
“(i) Rule.—For any small refinery described in clause
(ii) or (iii), the credits described in the respective clause
shall be—
“(I) returned to the small refinery and, notwithstanding
paragraph (5)(C), deemed eligible for future compliance
years; or
“(II) applied as a credit in the EPA Moderated Transaction
System (EMTS) account of the small refinery.
“(ii) Compliance years 2016 and 2017.—Clause (i) applies
with respect to any small refinery that—
“(I) retired credits generated for compliance years 2016
or 2017; and
“(II) submitted a petition under subparagraph (B)(i) for
that compliance year that remained outstanding as of December
1, 2022.
“(iii) Compliance year 2018.—In addition to small
refineries described in clause (ii), clause (i) applies with
respect to any small refinery—
“(I) that submitted a petition under subparagraph (B)(i)
for compliance year 2018 by September 1, 2019;
“(II) that retired credits generated for compliance year
2018 as part of the compliance demonstration of the small
refinery for compliance year 2018 by March 31, 2019; and
“(III) for which—
“(aa) the petition remained outstanding as of December 1,
2022; or
“(bb) the Administrator denied the petition as of July 1,
2022, and has not returned the retired credits as of December
1, 2022.”.
(e) Prohibition on Reallocation of Obligated Volumes.—
Section 211(o)(9) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(9))
is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(G) Prohibition on reallocation.—For the purpose of
making the determinations in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), for
calendar year 2028 and each calendar year thereafter, the
Administrator may not reallocate to other persons any
renewable fuel obligation applicable to a small refining
company the compliance requirements of which were reduced
pursuant to subparagraph (C).”.
(f) Fuel Infrastructure Rulemaking.—
(1) In general.—Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency shall, after a period of notice and public
comment, finalize a rule modifying the regulations of the
Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) and the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42
U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) (commonly known as the “Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976”) relating to the sale
and distribution of gasoline-ethanol blends that contain
greater than 10 volume percent ethanol and less than or equal
to 15 volume percent ethanol.
(2) Requirement.—In finalizing the rule required under
paragraph (1), the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency shall modify the E15 fuel dispenser
labeling requirements and the underground storage tank
regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency with
respect to compatibility with gasoline-ethanol blends.
(g) Exemption for At-risk Qualifying Small Refineries.—
Section 211(o)(9) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(9))
is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(H) Exemption for at-risk qualifying small refineries.—
“(i) In general.—Beginning in calendar year 2028, not
later than December 31 of a calendar year, a qualifying small
refinery may petition the Administrator for an exemption from
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2) for such
calendar year for the reason of the imminent risk of closure,
permanent idling, or conversion to a renewable fuel
production facility.
“(ii) Matters included in petitions.—In submitting a
petition for an exemption under clause (i), a qualifying
small refinery shall include in such petition the following:
“(I) Information demonstrating that—
“(aa) the qualifying small refinery is at imminent risk of
closure, permanent idling, or conversion to a renewable fuel
production facility;
“(bb) such risk is solely caused by the cost of compliance
with the requirements of paragraph (2); and
“(cc) the ownership of the qualifying small refinery has
not changed after the date of enactment of this paragraph.
“(II) An attestation, executed by a senior corporate
officer (or any equivalent position) with direct
responsibility for the applicable operations of the
qualifying small refinery, certifying that the information
included under subclause (I) is correct.
“(iii) Public disclosure.—Any petition submitted under
this subparagraph, including any information, attestation, or
other supporting documentation included in such a petition—
“(I) shall not be eligible for treatment as confidential
business information for purposes of section 114(c) or any
other provision of law; and
“(II) shall be made publicly available by the
Administrator not later than 30 days after the date of such
submission.
“(iv) Deadline for action on petitions.—The Administrator
shall act on any petition submitted by a qualifying small
refinery for an exemption under this subparagraph not later
than 90 days after the date of receipt of the petition.
“(v) Administrator determination.—The Administrator may
grant an exemption under this subparagraph only upon a
determination by the Administrator that the petition
submitted for the exemption adequately demonstrates the
matters specified in items (aa) through (cc) of clause
(ii)(I) and includes the attestation described in clause
(ii)(II).
“(vi) Scope and duration.—An exemption granted for a
qualifying small refinery under this subparagraph—
“(I) may exempt the qualifying small refinery from
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2) in whole or
in part;
“(II) may only exempt the qualifying small refinery from
compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2) to the
extent necessary to prevent the closure, permanent idling, or
conversion described in clause (i); and
“(III) shall only apply with respect to the calendar year
for which the petition for the exemption is submitted.
“(vii) Exempted volumes.—
“(I) In general.—In acting on petitions submitted by
qualifying small refineries for exemptions under this
subparagraph, the Administrator may not exempt, in total,
renewable fuel obligations for qualifying small refineries
such that the total volume of renewable fuel so exempted
exceeds the relevant volume cap for the applicable calendar
year described in subclause (II).
“(II) Volume cap.—The volume cap described in this
subclause is—
“(aa) for calendar year 2028, the volume of all renewable
fuel, including advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel,
biomass-based diesel, and conventional biofuel, that the
Administrator determines has, in total, an energy content
equal to the energy content of 150 million gallons of
conventional biofuel; and
“(bb) for each calendar year after calendar year 2028, the
volume of renewable fuel determined under item (aa), as
adjusted by the Administrator in direct proportion to any
changes to the applicable volume of renewable fuel
established for the calendar year under paragraph (2)(B)(ii)
as compared to the applicable volume of renewable fuel
established for calendar year 2028.
“(viii) Qualifying small refinery defined.—In this
subparagraph, the term `qualifying small refinery' means a
small refinery—
“(I) that received an extension of an exemption under
paragraph (9); or
“(II)(aa) for which the average aggregate daily crude oil
throughput for a calendar year (as determined by dividing the
aggregate throughput for the calendar year by the number of
days in the calendar year) does not exceed 10,000 barrels;
and
“(bb) that began production on or after January 1, 2007,
and before January 1, 2026.”.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1224, an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the Rules Committee Print 119-28 is adopted and the bill, as amended, is considered read.
and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, or their respective designees.
The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) will each control 30 minutes.
The chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie).
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1346.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025. The bill before us today, specifically the substitute text, was developed by some members of the Rural Domestic Energy Council established by the House in January to work with the stakeholders to identify potential reforms to the RFS program.
ethanol and gasoline, which farmers say is needed to provide an additional market for their crops without impacting air quality.
{time} 1600
difficult for small refineries, which already face economic and regulatory hardship, to continue to qualify for existing exemptions of RFS obligations and risk their closure as a result.
the RFS program is finished and that other reforms shouldn't be considered.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. I am a supporter of the Renewable Fuel Standard, including allowing the voluntary year-round sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol, known as E15, because it lowers prices for American drivers, supports our farmers, and fosters investment in cleaner transportation fuels.
availability of a cheaper and cleaner fuel option for the driving public. Blending more biofuels, like ethanol, into gasoline displaces demand for petroleum, helping to bring down gas prices for consumers.
Iran is driving up prices at the pump for Americans. Just yesterday, new inflation data showed that, overall, energy prices are up nearly 18 percent over the last year, and Americans cannot afford Trump's price spikes.
history. For example, at the end of 2024, Democrats and Republicans from the Energy and Commerce Committee worked to secure meaningful provisions in a bipartisan, bicameral, end-of-the-year government funding package.
have lowered costs and made a meaningful difference in the lives of hardworking Americans. Allowing year-round E15 would have ensured that Americans have access to homegrown biofuels that save drivers money at the pump and help insulate people from dramatic global price fluctuations.
Speaker Johnson backed out of that bipartisan, bicameral deal because Elon Musk, of all people, voiced his opposition to it. This problem of Republicans' own making has persisted with no resolution for more than 2 years now.
Energy Council of only Republican Members to bring a new E15 deal to the House floor. This council operated without transparency, abandoned bipartisan cooperation, and ignored longstanding and clear Energy and Commerce Committee jurisdiction on legislation amending the Clean Air Act and the Renewable Fuel Standard.
blocked by Republican opposition and a score from the Congressional Budget Office.
Domestic Energy Council would be a $2.3 billion increase in the deficit over a 10-year window.
money, and here we are, debating a standalone version to allow them to get around their budget requirements. Republicans like to give the impression that they are fiscal hawks, but that is a joke. It is just another example of how they can't get their act together and actually govern.
discipline to try to pass this bill, but they refuse to address so many other priorities to help Americans.
thanks to high prices for healthcare, energy bills, and groceries, but House Republicans won't lift a finger to help us on any of these issues.
These are the games the Republican majority plays daily. They are a mess. They are incapable of governing, and the American people are paying the price.
Mr. Speaker, to be clear, I am not opposed to this bill, but I have serious concerns with the Republican majority's artificially rushed, partisan, and secretive process. This is not a bill that I would have proposed if I or any Democrats were given a seat at the negotiating table.
“yes” because year-round E15 can offer some relief at the pump as prices soar across the board due to Trump's reckless war in Iran and the disastrous Republican energy agenda.
brought to the floor today, the bill is a step in the right direction, as President Trump and congressional Republicans carelessly undermine renewable fuels and push policies that hurt our farmers.
fill up their tanks with E15. This fuel provides significant savings for families during the summer driving season, so let's ensure it continues to be available at gas stations across the country all year with certainty, which is what this bill does.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill but not the methods used to get here. In any case, I do support the bill. I urge my colleagues to vote “yes,” and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), a valued member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee for allowing me time. I am proud to stand here—I know, I really am standing—in strong support of H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
to allow E15 to be sold during the Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), a valued member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee for allowing me time. I am proud to stand here—I know, I really am standing—in strong support of H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
to allow E15 to be sold during the summer months. That means Washington already recognizes that this policy makes sense.
finally providing certainty for farmers, producers, retailers, and consumers year-round.
prices, strengthens our energy independence, and supports rural communities across Iowa and our country.
Nationwide E15 adoption would save drivers nearly $27 billion annually, but this debate is about much more than fuel. Agriculture is hurting right now. Input costs remained high through the Biden administration. Commodity prices are down. Farm bankruptcies are rising.
family farms, their legacies, are at risk, along with their community bank and their community implement dealer. That is not because they are failing, but because Washington keeps moving the goalpost.
for. It would increase corn demand by 2.4 billion bushels, strengthen domestic energy production, support more than 128,000 American jobs, inject billions of dollars into rural economies, and save Americans money.
Let's clear up some misinformation being pushed about this bill. The legislation doesn't mandate E15. It simply gives retailers the option to sell it year-round. Again, it is removing an outdated prohibition.
coming at the expense of America's farmers, rural communities, and the American people. Farmers do not need more uncertainty. They need Congress to finally act and get out of the way. It is time to deliver permanent year-round E15.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), the ranking member of the Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I have concerns about how this bill is being considered today.
Renewable Fuel Standard in the 119th session of Congress. CBO has said that this bill will have a significant impact on our budget. Yet, there has not been any legislative record, independent analysis, or technical assistance from EPA
that could help us better understand its consequences.
fund, and vehicle fuel economy to some extent. We also know that it will have consequences for the RFS RIN market. Reducing demand for RINs by not reallocating small refiners' gallons will affect RIN prices, and it seems likely that producers and retailers of advanced biofuels will be the ones who suffer the most.
Mr. Speaker, this might just be assumptions on my part, but that is all we have to go on because this bill failed to have any legislative process to help us best understand these complex issues. I hope our counterparts in the Senate will take the time to do a proper review of this proposal.
of congressional intent that would lead to increasing the annual volumes of conventional biofuels beyond its historic 15 billion gallons per year.
acknowledge that administrations have been granting year-round E15 waivers for years. If that is going to continue to be the case, it simply makes sense to codify. I also acknowledge that the RFS' small refinery exemptions have been a source of uncertainty and litigation, and that process should be reformed.
missed opportunity. For one, it does nothing to recognize a significant and growing segment of the fuel pool, that being electricity. We should be providing certainty for e-RIN pathways. There is no good reason to keep electricity produced from qualified feedstocks out of the program. Frankly, that is not even enough.
fuel program, it will be filled with uncertainty, unnecessary litigation, and worse outcomes for both consumers and, yes, for our environment. We should embrace a performance-based clean fuel standard that rewards fuels of all types for their pollution reduction.
that E15 is about 30 cents per gallon cheaper, and we know that Americans are feeling a lot of pain at the pump due to President Trump and his disastrous, illegal war with Iran.
{time} 1610
Today, the average gas price is $4.51 per gallon. Compare that to under $3 a gallon before the war started. The $200 billion that the administration has previously said was necessary for this war could have been better used to incentivize more than 26 million people to buy an American-made electric vehicle.
people to take back some control and end their dependence on volatile oil markets.
serious about what it is going to take to lower energy prices for Americans and enact a sensible, long-term fuels policy for our country.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak), another valued member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Mrs. FEDORCHAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of North Dakota farmers and rural communities to support this step forward on year- round E15.
Nation. I hear about it in every conversation in every townhall and every radio show: When will we get year-round E15? It is what they are asking for. They want markets, not disaster payments. They want an increase in the demand right here in America for their products, and this is what E15 creates.
E15 is homegrown American energy. Most importantly, eliminating the artificial prohibition on summer sales of E15 is an important step toward creating the consistent demand that will allow this industry to grow and stand on its own without RFS one day.
We have to get this done first. It will add $25.3 billion to U.S. GDP and support more than 128,000 full-time jobs. In North Dakota, the ethanol industry contributes $1.7 billion annually to my State's economy.
round E15 with today's consideration of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, legislation I was so proud to cosponsor.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Landsman), a member of our committee.
Mr. LANDSMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Pallone for yielding. I am a newer Member of Congress, so this one was crazy to me: this idea that we didn't allow farmers to produce this biofuel all year-round; that we didn't allow consumers to have this option; that there was a law that said that only when we say so can E15 biofuels be produced.
The question with this bill is: Do we want to allow farmers to produce more ethanol, to produce E15 all year-round whenever they want? Do we want our consumers to be able to buy lower priced gas all year- round?
Unfortunately, the answer isn't obviously yes for everyone. There are some folks who don't agree that in the land of the free somehow our farmers can only produce this ethanol and bring it to market sometimes, that consumers can only get this lower-priced gas sometimes, and they will vote against this bill.
Hopefully, a majority of us will get this thing done. It will pass the Senate, and this country will finally have a policy where E15 biofuels can be sold all year-round. Our farmers can produce this all year-round, and consumers can buy it all year-round. Those are families and small businesses.
Permanentizing E15 sales obviously grows domestic demand for ethanol. It is nearly 7 billion gallons every year. That will make a huge difference for our farmers who are struggling with higher costs associated with these tariffs. This will save drivers in the United States more than $150 million just this summer—$150 million just this summer. For every single driver and every driver in Ohio, that is a 30- cent savings with every gallon. That is how much more affordable this option is.
take E15. So that is the vast majority of Americans get 30 cents off per gallon when we pass this.
Why did this take so long? It took so long because oil refineries and Big Oil, these big companies and folks who have a lot of money, they spent that money or some of that money convincing Members of Congress not to bring this to the floor even though it is better for farmers and better for consumers.
I am a farmers first guy. There are a lot of farmers first Members of Congress here on the Republican side and on the Democratic side, and we banded together. We got this thing on the floor, and, hopefully, it will pass and provide meaningful support for our farmers who desperately need it and meaningful relief at the pump for consumers and for our families.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to move toward American energy independence and pass my bill, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
uncertainty in the energy sector, energy independence is no longer a theoretical goal but a vital part of America's national security and economic survival.
Fortunately, E15 is a winning solution. It is a reliable, clean, and affordable homegrown fuel that strengthens every link in our domestic energy supply chain.
consumers, lowering costs at the pump at different levels, but in my district you can see up to 52 cents per gallon at a time when families need it most.
2 million bushels a year, delivering the certainty, opportunity, and market development America's farmers have unequivocally called for.
infrastructure, as the past 5 years of summertime waivers have already demonstrated.
The question is no longer whether E15 makes sense. We know it does. The question is whether Congress will allow consumers to have this viable option.
consumers, America's farmers, and America's energy future by making nationwide, year-round E15 a reality.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig), the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee. She used to be on our committee, but we lost her as she moved to the top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee.
Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding.
longtime coming. Getting year-round E15 across the finish line has been a priority of mine since the day I came into Congress. In fact, I led the charge for Democrats when we were in control of the House in 2022, the only other time that year-round E15 has passed the House of Representatives.
{time} 1620
terrible. Farm bankruptcies in the Midwest are up 70 percent year over year. Our family farmers are hurting, and so are our working families in this country.
their largest markets, and the war in Iran is hitting every single person I know in the pocketbook when it comes to gas prices.
farmers who badly need them while at the same time lowering costs at the pump.
Make no mistake about it: It is going to lower costs to allow for year-round E15 if the adoption rate goes up as retailers put in more infrastructure at the pump so that people will have broader access to year-round E15.
today. As we think about the administration, the tariffs, the war in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and the problems we have there, fertilizer costs, diesel costs—we can stand here all day long and say this is a good bipartisan bill, and I believe it is. In 2022, we passed a bipartisan bill. But until this administration changes its actual policies that impact family farmers, there is going to be pain throughout farm country.
renewable, and available. All we are asking to put into law is that we not arbitrarily limit this cheaper option for consumers to a few months out of the year. In fact, what we are putting in place today, should this pass, is a status quo because we are seeing waivers every single year anyway.
it. Year-round E15 is a win for consumers, and it is a win for farmers who desperately need these domestic markets because of so many bad policies on the part of this current administration.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, we support our farmers, but we also support our consumers. I appreciate my friends on both sides of the aisle for this position, but these two positions of being for farmers and being for consumers are not mutually exclusive.
or not, but the problem is that we don't have a choice about the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires us to produce more ethanol than we ever use.
about $750 a gallon to produce ethanol, about 2 to 4 gallons of water for every gallon of ethanol. Thirty cents of every gallon you currently buy of ethanol, after you pay the subsidy, is added to your gallon of gas price. This is going to raise prices.
By the way, you already have the chance to do this. Twenty-two States already have the option to sell E15 year-round. Less than 14 percent of fueling stations in Iowa, where they grow a heck of a lot of corn, sell E15 because the consumer doesn't want it. You get less miles per gallon. First of all, you pay more, subsidize it, and then get less miles per gallon when you put it in your tank.
This is craziness. As the price of fuel goes up because of Iran—not because of President Trump, but because of Iran—we are actually going to increase prices in this House if this bill is voted in favor of.
Delta purchased the Monroe facility in Pennsylvania for $150 million plus $30 million from Pennsylvania, but they spent $2.3 billion on renewable fuel compliance. That is 20 times the purchase price.
Where do you think the price goes, ladies and gentlemen? It goes in your wallet. You are paying for all of this stuff.
I absolutely urge a “no” vote on this. Let's not raise everybody's gas prices.
By the way, it doesn't help the environment, either. I have all of those numbers, too, but I am out of time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Van Orden). Members are reminded not to refer to persons in the gallery.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids).
Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this bill allowing for the year-round sale of E15.
farmers, fuel producers, and through multiple administrations to push for year-round E15 because this is one of the clearest bipartisan ways we can help lower costs for families while supporting American agriculture and energy production.
day, whether it is filling up their gas tank, paying rent, buying groceries, or covering the cost of childcare. You name it, they are making tough choices. Right now, with gas prices averaging more than $4 a gallon in Kansas, people are feeling the pressure everywhere they go.
with E15 was 15 cents cheaper than regular unleaded. I don't know about y'all, but my mom will drive across town for a 6-cent difference. That makes a huge difference, 15 cents a gallon. It might not sound like much to some folks out here in Washington, but for folks who are at home, driving to work, taking kids to school, those savings can add up really quickly.
We already know that E15 works. We have had summer E15 for years, and it has consistently helped lower prices at the pump.
the calendar changes. We need year-round E15. It matters not just for consumers of gasoline but also for Kansas agriculture.
Energy in Garnett. They are an ethanol producer in my district. They are helping turn Kansas-grown corn into fuel that powers our country.
Right now, the farm economy is the toughest it has been in years. Producers are dealing with rising costs and shrinking margins, and uncertainty is coming at them from every single direction. Frankly, this administration's chaotic economic policies and reckless approach to tariffs are making things worse and harder.
Kansas has lost 700 farms this year. Think about that. These are folks who are working hard, doing everything right, and still wondering whether they are going to be able to keep going another year.
for what our farmers grow. At a time of global instability and conflict around the world, that really matters because E15 is made with homegrown ingredients produced by American farmers, not imported from other countries overseas. That strengthens our energy independence and our national security while helping lower costs for everyday Americans here at home. This should not be controversial.
unnecessary delays from Republican leadership, and this is all happening while families continue to pay higher prices.
People back home don't care about political games. They care about whether they can afford to fill up their tank and get to work. This is common sense and bipartisan. We are talking about a solution that is going to help drivers, farmers, rural communities, and consumers alike.
Nikki Budzinski, Angie Craig, Dusty Johnson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Adrian Smith—for joining in this bipartisan effort.
Let's stop stalling. Let's lower costs now. Let's support our farmers, strengthen American energy, and deliver real relief for the people we represent.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).
Ms. HAGEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong opposition to H.R. 1346. This bill is disastrous for Wyoming refiners and independent petroleum producers, leading to a direct loss of at least 750 jobs in my home State.
or E15. It is the refiners, and this bill threatens to put them out of business.
yet mentioned the fact that it is the refiners that will be forced, mandated, to meet the E15 requirement.
across the country employ more than 5,800 workers. We could lose upward of 266,000 indirect jobs that depend on small refineries.
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mandate says the RFS will cost American families about $20 billion a year.
This bill would create a $3 billion or more annual cost increase for small refineries because of the blending and compliance costs.
cents per gallon, with some States seeing an increase of well over $1 per gallon.
struggling to make ends meet, we should not be adopting policies that make it even harder.
such as free and fair markets. This bill is nothing short of a new tax being imposed by Washington, D.C., and it is wrong.
they would not require Federal blending mandates, compliance credit schemes, subsidies, and special regulatory carve-outs to survive in the marketplace.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote “no” on this bill.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Budzinski).
Ms. BUDZINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, as amended.
Congressman Adrian Smith on this issue. We both understand, like many other Members, that year-round E15 is bigger than politics. This is about American farmers. It is about American consumers, and it is about American energy.
E15 is truly one of those rare issues where everyone wins. Here is why: American farmers win because it creates strong and stable markets for homegrown corn. American consumers win because E15 helps to lower prices at the pump. Our economy wins because E15 supports jobs and investment in rural America.
States. I have sat down with growers, producers, and small business owners across central and southern Illinois who all understand the same thing: Year-round E15 works.
evidence proving its benefits, we are still relying on temporary waivers and short-term fixes to keep E15 available during the summer months. Those waivers may get us through another season, but they do not provide certainty that our farmers need and deserve. Farmers cannot plan their future around temporary decisions. Producers cannot invest with confidence when policy changes year to year. Consumers should not lose access to a cheaper fuel option simply because Washington refuses to finish the job.
We have been close before. In fact, it feels like every year we get right to the goal line, and every year politics, delay, or dysfunction gets in our way.
Today we are here to say: Enough. Enough excuses. Enough kicking the can down the road. The time for bipartisan, permanent, nationwide, and year-round E15 is now.
shrinking margins, and growing unpredictability not because they are failing, but because the system is failing them.
squeezed, and that is especially at the gas pump. Right now, the average price of gas nationwide is around $4.50 per gallon. Families need relief, and year-round E15 is the solution. That is why today I am calling on my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats alike, to come together and let's finally pass this bill.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Hinson).
Mrs. HINSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act to allow permanent, nationwide, year-round access to E15.
Mr. Speaker, if you ate today, thank a farmer; if you got dressed today, thank a farmer; and if you put gas in your car today, thank a farmer.
every tool available to us to support our farmers and our rural communities. This bill does just that, driving new demand for American agriculture products and boosting our farm income by $13.8 billion.
families across the country, saving drivers up to 30 cents per gallon and reducing those prices along the supply chain. That is a savings of about $200 a year in fuel costs for the average family. Iowans, just for a stat here, have saved $126 million in the last decade by choosing E15 over E10. That is real savings.
Full E15 adoption would also help to support 128,000 full-time jobs.
provide a permanent solution. This is something I have been pushing for years. This is not a mandate. This is commonsense regulation fixes focused right on the consumer.
This is not a mandate. It is a market. It is a win-win-win supporting homegrown energy, reducing reliance on foreign oil and continuing to support America's producers who do the best thing which is feeding and fueling the world.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense bill.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time remains on both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fong). The gentleman from New Jersey has 7 minutes remaining. The gentleman from Kentucky has 18 minutes remaining.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Flood).
Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to offer my strong, unwavering
introduced by my fellow Nebraskan, Adrian Smith, as well as Senator Fischer over in the Senate from Nebraska.
I support ethanol. Why?
I grew up in the 1980s. I watched the farm bankruptcies. I saw what was happening in middle America, and then I saw what happened with the renaissance ushered into middle America by ethanol. I recognize that not everyone, including some of my colleagues in this Chamber, do not have the same feelings about ethanol. While I may disagree with that perspective, the beautiful thing about this bill is that it offers consumers a choice. You can choose E15, Mr. Speaker, you can choose E10, and you can choose E-zero. It is up to each and every person when they fill up at the pump.
values. They may want cheaper gas, they may not. They may want higher octane, they may not. They may want to support America's farmers, or they may not. It gives everyone the choice.
That is why we need a vote on the clean E15 vote today.
percent ethanol blends. We have come a long way in fuel science, emissions data and vehicle technology in the last 40 years. The decades-old rules no longer fit current conditions.
This wasn't a proposal put together overnight. Lawmakers worked with the liquid fuels industry and farmers to come together to find a solution. Everyone wants regulatory certainty.
Nebraska has enjoyed year-round E15 due to emergency waivers. While we are thankful it has been granted for our State, we can't rely on the Federal Government every year to issue ad hoc relief.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill, and I urge its adoption.
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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Evans), my good friend and a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mr. EVANS of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in opposition to the bill before us. Let me be clear: If this was just year-round E15, I would be a “yes,” but it is not just year-round E15. It makes significant changes to definitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard that impact 80 percent of small refineries.
My district is home to the last two oil refineries in Colorado. Both of them are small refineries. Under this bill, their definition would change. They would no longer be small refineries, which means they would no longer be able to obtain relief from the RFS compliance costs. My two refineries alone would face an impact of over $100 million a year.
and is something that the GAO has found in a 2022 study. After years of attacks and overregulation from ruling Democrats in Denver, we can't afford to lose essential energy infrastructure, like the two refineries in my district.
Coloradans. In fact, the last time my two refineries had to temporarily shut down, gas prices spiked by $1.40 a gallon for my constituents in Colorado.
If my refineries have to eat a $100-plus million annual increase in their compliance costs and/or they potentially shut down, that $1.40 a gallon becomes permanent for my constituents in Colorado. That is something that they cannot afford in perpetuity.
not what this does. It has other definitions in it. I urge my colleagues to join me in “no.”
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Finstad).
Mr. FINSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1346, delivering on year-round, nationwide sales of E15.
Minnesota raising that fifth generation and representing 21 counties in southern Minnesota, a very strong egg-producing district, I have had many conversations with my neighbor farmers. I know by hearing what they are telling me and firsthand in my own experience as a farmer that we are facing uncertainty in our input costs and uncertainty in the global markets. We need a new domestic opportunity for our corn. E15 delivers on that.
rely on D.C. bureaucrats granting emergency waivers to sell E15 during summer driving season.
farmers, support rural economies, and provide consumers with more affordable fuel options.
Food and fuel security is also critical to our national security. I will choose reliance on my neighbors in southern Minnesota over our foreign adversaries to produce our domestic fuel supply every day of the week.
Mr. Speaker, it is high time for Congress to act. It is high time that Congress provides much-needed certainty to our fuel supply chain. I urge a “yes” vote.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).
Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his time.
they are coming from. I understand my friends who come from States that want support for farming. We all want to make sure that we are figuring that out. We worked through the farm bill. I just think we ought to be going about this a different way.
conversation about it. Expanding E15 is just the wrong direction to go. It is going to harm refiners. It is going to drive up the cost of gas. I think it is going to drive up the price of energy, generally. It is, in fact, a mandate. It is an expansion of the mandate. That is what the practical effects of it will be.
Air Act in terms of what it does with respect to the E15 requirement in the summer, but then let's modify the Renewable Fuel Standard.
We have created this botched system. We are making it massively difficult for refining capacity to grow in the United States. We are not actually solving the problem here. What we are doing instead is trying to put a Band-Aid on it, which expands the mandate. It doesn't fix the Renewable Fuel Standard, which is the core of the problem. It is trying to backdoor into farm subsidies while doing it on the back of our energy and gas policy.
Mr. Speaker, this bill should go to committee. This bill should be amended and debated. We shouldn't be putting it on the floor right now. It is not ready for prime time. I am going to oppose the legislation, and I hope my colleagues will, too.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden).
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Mr. Speaker, the only committee I asked to be on when I got elected to Congress was the Agriculture Committee. I came here to fight for my farmers, and that is exactly what we are doing here today.
E15 year-round. I would argue that if you do the exact same thing 5 years in a row, it is no longer an emergency.
guess what. E15 is a source of energy. It is domestically produced. For the people who bemoan the accountability, it is rightfully so. This is a way to save up to 30 cents a gallon of gasoline.
Mr. Speaker, this is critically important for farmers. It is critically important for consumers. I stand in very strong support of this legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messmer), my good friend.
Mr. MESSMER. Mr. Speaker, we all know that farmers are facing high input costs and that commodity prices are too low. Today, I stand here in support of a policy that will bring about a sustainable solution.
agriculture assistance package. It is not a mandate. Retailers have a choice. It is not an emergency payment.
This bill delivers cost savings at the pump for U.S. consumers with a promise of stability for small refiners and guaranteed profitability for the next generation of American farmers.
Don't just take it from me. Consider the appeal from hundreds of companies, manufacturers, and producer cooperatives that are pleading for this program.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in investing in America's farm families, in agricultural businesses, and in our beloved rural communities by supporting this important legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn).
Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, today, we have the opportunity to save every American at the pump up to 50 cents per gallon. We know because we have proved it right in my home State of Iowa. The value of yearlong, nationwide E15 is real money in the pockets of families, communities, and our supply chain nationwide.
dollars and put it back in their pockets to reinvest in their families when they fill up, or if we are going to continue to allow energy prices to strain families' budgets.
here in the United States for energy independence, or if we continue to be reliant on foreign powers and adversaries, subsidizing their ability to get fuel to the rest of the world while America does the heavy lifting.
like the 87,000 small family farmers that are building that next generation of not only feeding our country but also fueling it.
Our farmers work hard for our families. Today, we get to work hard for both families and farmers by putting this bill on the floor, the first time E15 has ever been voted on.
We defeated backroom deals in D.C. to secure this vote that will bring down costs for American families. Now, we have the chance today to finish that job.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my friends on both sides of the aisle—this is an opportunity for affordability for families, certainty for producers, and American energy that grows right here in America. I ask for their support.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate my support for the Renewable Fuel Standard, including allowing the voluntary year-round sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol, known as E15, because it lowers prices for American drivers, supports farmers, and fosters investment in cleaner transportation fuel.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Messmer). All time for debate has expired.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on passage of the bill.
The question was taken; and the Speaker announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Motion to Recommit
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Perry of Pennsylvania moves to recommit the bill (H.R.
1346) to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit.
The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it.
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question are postponed.