[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 694 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 694

Expressing support for the designation of May 2024 as ``Renewable Fuels 
 Month'' to recognize the important role that renewable fuels play in 
reducing carbon impacts, lowering fuel prices for consumers, supporting 
   rural communities, and lessening reliance on foreign adversaries.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 16, 2024

Mr. Ricketts (for himself, Mr. Brown, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Marshall, Mr. 
 Thune, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Moran, Ms. Smith, Mr. Grassley, 
Mrs. Fischer, and Mr. Rounds) submitted the following resolution; which 
     was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of May 2024 as ``Renewable Fuels 
 Month'' to recognize the important role that renewable fuels play in 
reducing carbon impacts, lowering fuel prices for consumers, supporting 
   rural communities, and lessening reliance on foreign adversaries.

Whereas the United States is the largest producer of biofuels in the world, 
        which contributes to the domestic economy, creates jobs, and reduces 
        greenhouse gas emissions;
Whereas ethanol is a renewable fuel made of biomass from plant materials;
Whereas, in 2023, more than 72,463 jobs in the United States were directly 
        associated with the ethanol industry, with an additional 322,000 
        indirect and induced jobs supported across all sectors of the economy;
Whereas the ethanol industry created $32,500,000,000 in household income and 
        contributed more than $54,200,000,000 to the gross domestic product of 
        the United States;
Whereas ethanol and feed co-product production provide a valuable market for 
        United States corn, as a typical dry mill ethanol plant adds nearly $2 
        of additional value to every bushel of corn processed;
Whereas ethanol use reduces greenhouse gas emissions by between 44 and 52 
        percent compared to gasoline, and, by displacing hydrocarbon substances 
        like aromatics in gasoline, ethanol also helps reduce emissions of air 
        toxins, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and exhaust 
        hydrocarbons;
Whereas, in 2023, ethanol played a vital role in bolstering the energy 
        independence of the United States by supplementing nearly 525,000,000 
        barrels of crude oil;
Whereas \1/3\ of every bushel processed by an ethanol plant is used to make 
        distillers grains, one of the most efficient animal feeds available;
Whereas biodiesel is a drop-in replacement for petroleum-based diesel fuel that 
        is produced from renewable resources such as recycled cooking oil, 
        soybean oil, distillers corn oil, canola oil, and animal fats;
Whereas renewable diesel is an advanced biofuel, made from the same feedstocks 
        as biodiesel, that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, while meeting the 
        same standard specification for diesel fuels as petroleum-based diesel;
Whereas producing a total of 6,000,000,000 gallons of biodiesel and renewable 
        diesel would support 187,000 full-time equivalent jobs, with more than 
        $8,800,000,000 in wages and $61,600,000,000 in total economic impact;
Whereas biodiesel and renewable diesel can be used in existing diesel engines 
        without modification and are available throughout the United States;
Whereas advanced biofuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel reduce greenhouse 
        gas emissions by at least 50 percent compared to petroleum-based diesel;
Whereas biodiesel emits up to 80 percent less particulate matter than petroleum-
        based diesel, improving air quality and health outcomes;
Whereas the production of biodiesel and renewable diesel adds to the total 
        domestic fuel supply, reducing the price of all diesel fuel at the pump;
Whereas, without the renewable fuel standard helping to drive production of 
        biodiesel and renewable diesel, the value of soybeans grown by farmers 
        in the United States would decrease by 8 percent;
Whereas sustainable aviation fuel is made from renewable biomass and waste 
        resources and can deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel; 
        and
Whereas sustainable aviation fuel can be blended with conventional jet fuel and 
        the use of sustainable or blended aviation fuel requires no 
        infrastructure or equipment changes: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of May 2024 as ``Renewable 
        Fuels Month''; and
            (2) recognizes--
                    (A) the important role renewable fuels play in 
                reducing the carbon impact of the United States;
                    (B) the ability of renewable fuels to lower fuel 
                prices for consumers;
                    (C) the support to rural communities that renewable 
                fuel industries provide; and
                    (D) the opportunity that the production of 
                renewable fuels provides to lessen the reliance of the 
                United States on foreign adversaries.
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