Statewide Iowa (RI) — U.S. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says promoting year-round sales of gasoline with a higher blend of ethanol is at the top of President Trump’s biofuels agenda.
During a campaign rally in Iowa in January, President Trump announced he’d sign a bill to permanently override EPA rules that bar the sale of E15 in the summer months due to smog concerns.
Rollins spoke at a campaign rally for Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn Tuesday. She made a comment as she took stage.
She also noted that a vote is scheduled in the U.S. House next week on E15.
The policy was removed from the Farm Bill before it passed the House last week, but the U.S. House is scheduled to vote on an E15 bill on May 13th.
Nunn says he’s all about “Iowa nice,” but Iowa’s congressional delegation had to scramble to get that done.
Rollins, who spoke to the crowd before Nunn arrived on stage, touted use of an even higher blend of ethanol.
Rollins also highlighted the recent announcement of a new agency hub in a Des Moines suburb to support operations of the Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Most USDA food safety employees are based at food processing facilities around the country.
The Urbandale operation will handle training, financial operations and IT services connected to that work.
The USDA is converting space it already has in Urbandale into offices for about 200 employees.
KIWA Staff Photo
