WASHINGTON DC (May 1, 2019) — Prepared Remarks by US Senator Charles "Chuck" Grassley of Iowa at the National Biodiesel Board Tax Credit Press Conference on Extending the Biodiesel Tax Credit:
I’m glad to be here today to speak on the urgency of extending the biodiesel tax-credit.
The biodiesel tax-credit has now been expired for 16 months. This is unacceptable. Thousands of jobs in Iowa and in rural communities across the country are needlessly being put at risk.
Nationally, the biodiesel industry supports more than 60,000 jobs with biodiesel plants in every state. Biodiesel’s footprint extends from Washington and Oregon in the northwest to Connecticut and Rhode Island in the northeast. Its impact in Iowa is no different, which I am proud to say is one of the leading producers of biodiesel and soybeans in the country.
There has been a lot of talk about the need to promote green energy and reduce our carbon emissions. The biodiesel tax-credit is a proven and effective provision that does just that. Support of its extension should be a no-brainer for anyone who supports green energy and American jobs.
I’m pleased to see we have a bipartisan group of members leading the charge for extension in the House of Representatives. Their bipartisan work is crucial as all revenue measures must originate in the House. I trust they are doing good work to educate their fellow members on Ways and Means and in House leadership on the importance of quick action over there.
I’m committed to continuing to work on a bipartisan basis in the Senate. This includes working with Ranking Member [Ron] Wyden, who has joined me on legislation to extend the credit, Senator [Sheldon] Whitehouse, who I’m glad to see here today, and Senator [Maria] Cantwell, who has long been my co-champion for biodiesel in the Senate.
If the House can send us a bill extending the biodiesel credit, I look forward to working with them and others to get the extension across the finish line.
