WASHINGTON DC (October 28, 2019) — Representative Dave Loebsack today announced that bipartisan legislation he helped introduce, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2019 (HR3006), will serve as the basis of the hearing in the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The hearing is entitled "Protecting the RFS: The Trump Administration's Abuse of Secret Waivers," and will include testimony from Kelly Nieuwenhuis, President of Siouxland Energy Cooperative in Iowa, along with Geoff Cooper, the President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. The hearing will be held Tuesday, October 29, 10:30AM EDT (9:30AM CDT).
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“I am thankful that Chairmen Pallone and Tonko are holding this important hearing to examine how we can best support and expand the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The RFS has proven it works and is the right policy for our country. It creates jobs here at home, supports rural communities, saves taxpayers hard-earned dollars, and reduces dependence on foreign oil. I look forward to using this hearing to set the record straight. During the hearing, we will hear from an Iowa farmer and other representatives of the biofuels industry about the pain they have felt because of the administration’s misuse of the Small Refinery Exemptions (SRE).” said Rep Loebsack in advance of the hearing.
Background
Rep Dave Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of the RFS, ethanol, and the biofuels industry. He has been leading the way in the House to increase oversight and transparency of the Small Refinery Exemption that the Administration has used to undermine the RFS, hurting our farmers and rural communities, while propping up Big Oil. As co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, Rep Loebsack helped lead the opposition of the excessive use of the SRE, including this August, when the President and EPA granted 31 new waivers. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep Loebsack has continually pushed the EPA to be more transparent and called for the suspension of the program until changes were made.
