[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 37 (Thursday, March 2, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE INTRODUCTION OF THE RFS REFORM ACT OF 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2017

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
provide relief from an onerous mandate that has been placed upon the 
backs of the American people for over 10 years. The mandate I'm 
referring to is none other than the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), a 
mandate requiring that increasingly larger volumes of corn-based 
ethanol be blended into our gasoline. The RFS mandates that 36 billion 
gallons of renewable fuels be part of our nation's fuel supply by 2022.
  After 10 years, it is clear that the federal government's ethanol 
mandate is not working, and Congress must have a serious conversation 
about continued market-distorting ethanol promotion. One of the big 
drivers of ethanol prices and supply is an artificial market created by 
the federal government.
  The federal government's creation of an artificial market for the 
ethanol industry has quite frankly resulted in a domino effect that is 
hurting consumers. This year over 35 percent of the U.S. corn crop will 
be used for ethanol production. With increasing food and feed stocks 
being diverted into fuel, we are seeing volatility in the marketplace 
which negatively impacts livestock and food producers.
  While the RFS is causing instability in food prices, it has not 
provided its intended relief for consumers at the pump. It is a known 
fact that ethanol-blended gasoline has a lower energy density than that 
of traditional gasoline. Therefore, Americans are forced to buy more 
fuel to make up the difference. In fact, some studies show that drivers 
in the U.S. pay at least $10 billion more each year because of the RFS. 
The RFS is causing unintended and negative consequences for American 
consumers, energy producers, livestock farmers, and food manufacturers 
and retailers. It is clear that the RFS needs fundamental reform. 
That's why I am introducing legislation to accomplish this task, and I 
am pleased to have the support of Reps. Costa, Welch, and Womack in 
introducing this bipartisan bill.
  The RFS Reform Act will eliminate the corn-based ethanol 
requirements, cap the amount of ethanol that can be blended into 
conventional gasoline at 10 percent, require the EPA to set cellulosic 
biofuel levels that reflect industry production levels, and decrease 
the total volume of renewable fuel that must be contained in gasoline 
sold or introduced into commerce for years 2017 through 2022.
  The RFS Reform Act has the support of a broad range of agriculture 
producers, consumer groups, energy manufacturing, retailers, 
environmental, and taxpayer organizations. I am a proponent of 
renewable fuels when they compete fairly in the marketplace, but the 
current policy needs fundamental reform. I ask my colleagues to support 
meaningful reform of the current status quo and advance this bipartisan 
legislation.

                          ____________________