Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the E15 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rules Committee hears testimony on bill to allow year‑round E15 sales
Summary
The House Rules Committee held an emergency hearing on HR 13 46, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would waive RVP limits to permit year‑round sales of gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol (E15); witnesses and members debated farmer relief, small‑refiner impacts and a compromise council to resolve outstanding issues.
The House Rules Committee convened an emergency hearing to take testimony on HR 13 46, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, which would extend a volatility waiver under the Clean Air Act to allow gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol (E15) to be sold nationwide year round.
Supporters, including members from Midwestern farming districts and biofuel proponents, described the bill as a market‑opening measure that would lower pump prices and provide new markets for corn growers. "Expanding ethanol blends has a proven track record of expanding market access, lowering prices at the pump, and giving consumers more choices," said Mister Smith, one of the bill's witnesses, adding that the compromise language and a newly created Rural Domestic Energy Council should lead to a durable solution.
Opponents and some committee members raised concerns about process and certain policy details. Representative Hageman warned that changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard’s small refinery exemption (SRE) could harm refineries defined in statute as those not exceeding 75,000 barrels per day; she said small refiners in her district ‘‘rely on the SRE.’’ Representative Budzinski cited USDA forecasts and said higher corn production — "17,000,000,000 bushels" for the 2025–26 marketing year, she said — increases pressure for a year‑round E15 market.
Witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized two linked points: the bill's potential economic effect on farmers and consumers, and unresolved technical questions about how the RFS and SRE changes would be implemented. Several speakers welcomed the Rural Domestic Energy Council as a venue to work out details but also cautioned that the council must produce results rather than delay action. "This council is not a substitute for action, and I refuse to let it be utilized as a delaying tactic," Mister Smith said.
The committee did not mark up HR 13 46 at the hearing and no vote was taken. Members said the council and further committee work are expected to frame next steps; Chairwoman Fox recessed the committee "subject to the call of the chair." The next procedural steps — membership of the council, its charter and timing for any markup — were described as outstanding and "not specified" at the hearing.
