Ag Policy Blog

The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter Monday to every member of the House of Representatives asking lawmakers to "reject any proposals that amend, repeal, defund or otherwise modify or interfere with the Renewable Fuels Standard."

Farm Bureau is specifically seeking opposition to an amendment to the appropriations bill for EPA and the Department of Interior. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a freshman Republican from Georgia, plans to introduce an amendment that would block EPA from spending any money to further implement the RFS. As Farm Bureau noted, EPA is currently working on the final rules for RFS blending volumes for 2014, 2015 and 2016. Loudermilk's amendment would stop those efforts.

"Destabilization of the current regulatory and policy environment would impede further investment that drives innovation in the biofuels space and would have detrimental impacts to the rural economy."

Oddly enough, Loudermilk's amendment also is opposed by the oil industry, mainly because of fears that if Loudermilk's amendment passes it would undermine support for the overall appropriations bill. The funding bill already has provisions that would limit federal regulations on hydraulic fracking, as well as other regulatory riders. Another provision would block EPA from implementing the waters of the U.S. rule.

The House picks up where it left off in taking up HR 2822 later today with plans for votes on floor amendments possibly coming this evening.

The debate over the RFS comes after EPA held a hearing two weeks ago in Kansas that drew more than 250 supporters, including the governors of Iowa and Missouri.

Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee has yet to hold any hearings on the impact of the RFS on the rural economy but the committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday looking at the economic impact of exporting crude oil.

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