Washington, D.C. (Sioux County Radio) — Congressman Randy Feenstra is celebrating the House passage of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, a move he says will provide much-needed economic relief to Iowa farmers and American drivers.
The legislation, which passed the House in a bipartisan vote of 218-203, permanently authorizes the year-round sale of E15 gasoline.
Feenstra, who helped lead the negotiations as co-chair of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, noted that the bill was decades in the making.
Beyond fuel, Feenstra emphasized that the move is a win for all farmers in Iowa. Projections indicate the bill could increase farm income by $13.8 billion and lower gas prices by 30 to 40 cents per gallon.
The Congressman also addressed ongoing debates regarding the broader Farm Bill, specifically criticizing state-level mandates like California’s Proposition 12. He argued that such regulations create unnecessary hurdles for the industry.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will require 60 votes to reach the President’s desk.
Feenstra says the margin of the House vote was important.
Feenstra says President Trump and Vice President Vance are using their leverage to help push the bill across the finish line.
The bill eliminates the EPA rule that blocks sales of E15 — gasoline blended with 15% ethanol — during the summer due to smog concerns. The National Corn Growers Association, the ethanol industry, and the American Petroleum Institute all back the bill. Some refineries object to it, arguing it will make it harder to obtain waivers from the federal ethanol-blending mandate.
Feenstra says the group of U.S.-based refineries objecting to the bill are owned by foreign companies.
The American Petroleum Institute released a statement saying year-round E15 is critical for providing certainty for refineries and expanding choices at the pump.
KIWA Staff Photo
