Hawkeye Reporter

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and lifelong family farmer, has joined Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and other senators in introducing a bipartisan resolution to mark the 20th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Grassley highlighted the impact of renewable fuels on both consumers and rural communities. “Renewable fuels lower prices at the pump, strengthen our energy security and support our rural communities. For 20 years, the Renewable Fuel Standard has strongly supported Iowa agriculture, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce this resolution celebrating two decades of hard work and innovation. As a lifelong family farmer, I’ll never stop advocating for our rural communities,” Grassley said.

The resolution was co-led by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Representatives Max Miller (R-Ohio), and Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill). Other cosponsors include Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), as well as Representatives Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Mike Flood (R-Neb.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa).

The text of the resolution can be viewed HERE.

Grassley played a role in establishing the RFS through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which requires oil refiners to blend certain volumes of renewable fuels into transportation fuel supplies. This policy led to increased investment in biorefineries and renewable fuel production facilities nationwide.

Iowa is recognized as the leading ethanol-producing state. The RFS is estimated to reduce gasoline prices for consumers by 10-30 cents per gallon.

Earlier this year, Grassley and Klobuchar wrote to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin urging restoration of integrity in the RFS program. In May, Grassley and Ricketts introduced another bipartisan resolution designating May as Renewable Fuels Month.