The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“RENEWABLE ENERGY” mentioning Chuck Grassley was published in the Senate section on page S4540 on June 15.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, it is no secret that this Senator has been a leader in promoting renewable energy sources. Iowa has done even more to lead the Nation in biofuels production. This leads to a cleaner environment and really increases America's energy independence.
Last week, Reuters reported the Biden administration is considering ways to allow U.S. oil refiners to not meet their biofuel blending requirements. This same administration has proposed hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies for electric vehicles but failed to include any support for biofuels infrastructure, which play a vital role in our Nation's transportation sector as well as our efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.
Need I remind my colleagues, President Biden promised in his campaign to ``promote and advance renewable energy, ethanol, and other biofuels to help rural America and our nation's farmers.'' President Biden is not keeping that promise.
Unfortunately, despite the administration's emphasis on the environment and climate, their recent actions contradict that and undermine their entire credibility. The biofuel industry has proven that ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions from motor fuel by almost half.
Almost every vehicle on the road can run on at least E10 ethanol. Many retailers are now selling more E15 ethanol and other higher blends like E85, if you have a vehicle that can use E85. Whether it is 10 percent, 15 percent, or 85 percent, it is cleaner than 100 percent petroleum.
According to the Energy Information Administration, by 2050, 81 percent of new vehicle sales will still be gas-powered or flex fuel.
In my introductory telephone conversation with EPA Administrator Regan, when he was nominated, he told me that biofuels are a major tool in the Biden administration's plan to combat climate change. I stressed to him at that time the importance of the biofuels industry to both agriculture and energy, and Iowa happens to be the No. 1 producer of ethanol.
No matter what the EPA or Big Oil says about the impact of its waivers to oil companies making billions in profits, farmers and biofuel producers know and feel the negative impact. Any attempt to exempt oil refiners from their biofuels obligation is a blatant bailout.
The law is simple: Blend biofuels or buy credits from those who do. By adding more biofuels to our energy mix, we can reduce emissions from dirty oil while keeping transportation costs low for working families.
Unfortunately, despite the administration's emphasis on environment, it seems like biofuels don't appear to be much of a priority and well short of what nominee at that time, now-EPA Director Regan said that it would be. Now it looks like labor unions have been co-opted by Big Oil, and we are doing their bidding in the White House.
President Biden is now faced with a decision. He can lower greenhouse gases with biofuels or he can side with Big Oil to destroy biofuel demand by illegally tampering with the renewable fuel standard, just as we had problems with previous administrations, both Republican and Democratic--referring to what the Obama and Trump administrations did with the small refineries exemption.
Whether it is labor unions or Big Oil, I won't tire in standing up for homegrown clean biofuels. I did that whether we had Democratic or Republican administrations. I will continue to advocate for Iowans and the biofuels because it strengthens U.S. energy independence, makes for a cleaner environment, and creates jobs in rural America.
I encourage President Biden, EPA Administrator Regan, and my colleagues from across the aisle to keep it clean.
Does President Biden want to be known as ``Big Oil'' Biden? I don't think he does.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.
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