Iowa Republicans failing to deliver on E-15

Feenstra, Nunn, and Iowa Republicans continue getting rolled by their own party on Iowa priorities

DES MOINES – Iowa agriculture faces a “financial squeeze” from increased input costs and costly tariffs and Iowa Republicans seem increasingly incapable of offering any relief. 

In January, after Republicans stripped year-round E-15 from a must-pass spending bill, the Renewable Fuels Association said: 

“We are extremely disappointed that Congress appears to have failed again in adopting a simple technical fix that would have made lower-cost, American-made E15 available to consumers nationwide all year long. Allowing year-round E15 would have provided a lifeline to farmers who are facing the worst economic crisis in almost 50 years, while also helping American families struggling with higher energy bills.”

The Rural Domestic Energy Council, created following the failure in January is supposed to release a draft compromise language by February 15. However, reporting this week indicates the prospects for passage are dim. Oil-state Republicans are already panning any potential compromise: 

“I still have a very strong objection to going year-round E15 without peeling back the Renewable Fuel Standard.” –Chip Roy, R-TX

“Any changes to the definition of ‘small refinery’ will structurally disadvantage refineries in Wyoming and across the country,” Hageman warned at the inception of the task force. “We do not need to destroy small refineries in the pursuit of E15. … I need to fight for my businesses.” –Harriet Hageman, R-WY

“Current draft proposals might work for the world’s largest oil companies, many of whom have offshored refining capacity, but these so-called ‘compromises’ will only force mid-size, independent American refiners out of business,” –Fueling American Jobs Coalition, a mid-sized refineries industry group

Meanwhile, the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee has made clear E-15 will not be included in the long-delayed Farm Bill, further complicating any chance of passage.  

“Whether it’s tariffs, health care, or E-15, weakness from Iowa Republicans is costing Iowa dearly,” said Rita Hart, Iowa Democratic Party Chair. “Talk is not enough – Iowa’s leaders need to succeed in opening new markets for agricultural products, or they should come home and let new independent voices do better.” 

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