Underwood Statement on Renewable Fuel Standard Agreement
WASHINGTON— Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) released the following statement on the announcement today that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture are taking steps to expand biofuel requirements and remove barriers to the sale of E15.
"Between the unsustainable trade war and extraordinarily tough weather conditions, the agriculture community in Illinois has been struggling to stay afloat amid unprecedented uncertainty.And in the midst of some extremely hard years, farmers and ethanol producers have faced further setbacks as this Administration has undermined the renewable fuel industry to give handouts to Big Oil," Underwood said. "I'm pleased that today's announced plan will help address the hollowing out of the Renewable Fuel Standard, and I will continue my bipartisan work to ensure the generations-old family farms and agriculture businesses in my community are allowed to thrive."
Underwood is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3006, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2019, which would stop the Environmental Protection Agency from recklessly granting waivers to oil refineries and undermining the market for ethanol. The Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act would impose an annual June 1st deadline for any small refineries wishing to submit petitions for exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending requirements. The deadline will give EPA sufficient time to incorporate all approved waivers into the following year's renewable volume obligations, meaning that there will be a higher requirement for biofuels under RFS. Additionally, the bill provides transparency to farmers by making public any information submitted within a small refinery petition to EPA.
In May, Underwood sent a bipartisan letter to the Environmental Protection Agency urging the agency to reverse the expansion of biofuel waivers for large or unqualified refiners. In the letter, Underwood highlighted that the expansion of biofuel waivers hurts farmers who rely on demand for corn-based ethanol and other biofuels and increases our dependence on foreign oil. Along with many public events with the agriculture community across the 14th District, Rep. Underwood also regularly meets with her Agriculture Advisory Council, a team made up of members of the agriculture community who provide insight into the industry and its needs and feedback on federal legislation.