[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S3301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Year-Round Sale of E15

  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I came to the floor last week to talk 
about the challenges facing farmers right now. While the broader 
economy is thriving, a combination of low commodity prices, protracted 
trade disputes, and natural disasters and weather-related issues have 
left many farmers and ranchers struggling.
  In my home State of South Dakota, farmers and ranchers are dealing 
with the aftermath of severe winter storms, heavy rainfall, bomb 
cyclones, and spring flooding. Planting is behind schedule, and many 
farmers will not be able to plant at all this year. Yet, while the news 
has generally been tough for farmers and ranchers lately, there are a 
couple of recent happenings that are worth celebrating.
  Japan's announcement that it was lifting age limits on U.S. beef 
imports is a win for America's ranchers, who will be able to 
substantially increase their sales to Japan. Also, the administration's 
move to lift the ban on the year-round sale of E15--15-percent ethanol-
blended fuel--went live in the Federal Register yesterday. This is 
great news for corn producers in South Dakota and around the Nation.
  I have been advocating for higher blends of ethanol for more than a 
decade, and I have spent a lot of time advocating for the year-round 
sale of E15. Year-round E15 is a win-win-win-win situation. It is a win 
for consumers and for our economy. It is a win for the environment. It 
is a win for our Nation's energy security. It is also a big win for our 
Nation's agriculture industry.
  Year-round E15 will not only provide consumers with a cheaper 
alternative at the pump, but it will keep gas prices lower. Plus, the 
year-round sale of E15 means more ethanol can be sold each year, for 
gas stations will have a greater incentive to sell E15 now that they 
will no longer have to go through the costly process of reworking and 
relabeling E15 pumps at the start of the summer's driving season and 
then of converting them back in the fall. Increased demand will fuel 
further growth in the ethanol industry, which already supports hundreds 
of thousands of U.S. jobs and contributes tens of billions of dollars 
to our economy.
  Year-round sales of E15 are also a win for our environment in that 
ethanol is a cleaner burning fuel than is regular gasoline, which means 
fewer greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas 
emissions by more than one-third. Biofuels like ethanol are key to 
there being a lower carbon energy future, and the next generation of 
advanced biofuels will further lower emissions.
  Another major advantage to ethanol is that it diminishes our 
dependence on foreign oil. Ethanol is a homegrown fuel, and the more we 
are producing here at home the less we have to rely on unstable 
countries or far-off sources to meet our fuel needs.
  Finally, of course, the year-round sale of E15 is a big win for our 
Nation's corn producers. America's farmers don't just feed our country. 
They help fuel it, too. Roughly half of the corn produced in my home 
State of South Dakota goes into ethanol production.
  Increased demand for ethanol as a result of the administration's 
decision could boost demand for corn by up to 2 billion bushels. That 
would be a significant boost to U.S. corn producers at any point, but 
it is an especially big deal given the challenges the agriculture 
sector has faced over the past several years.
  U.S. corn producers are one of the main reasons I have been a 
relentless advocate for higher blends of ethanol, and I am very happy 
the President has delivered on his commitment to year-round sales of 
E15. As we move forward, I will continue to advocate for biofuels and 
the environmental and economic benefits they bring. Conventional 
ethanol has laid the foundation for advanced biofuels, which will have 
even lower life cycle emissions.
  American ingenuity has turned the corner to create ethanol from other 
parts of plants like corn kernel fiber, boosting yields, but we need 
the Environmental Protection Agency to end the yearlong delays and 
approve registrations.
  I will also continue to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to 
stop its practice of granting small refiner exemptions to the renewable 
fuel standard that discourage demand for ethanol. These so-called 
hardship waivers should be limited only to instances where small 
refiners would no longer be profitable or competitive if they comply 
with their blending obligation. They should not be granted to refiners 
who are posting billion-dollar profits and seeking to game the system. 
We need to make sure the EPA is granting waivers appropriately and in a 
transparent manner.
  That said, the year-round sale of E15 will actually help refiners 
because it will incentivize higher ethanol blending and drive down 
compliance costs.
  I am thankful that President Trump made good on his commitment to our 
farmers to get the E15 rule done, and I am glad he is back in the 
heartland today so he can hear firsthand about the difference this will 
make in farm country.
  While we have a long way to go to get the agricultural economy 
thriving again, I am heartened by this victory for our corn producers, 
and I will continue to make our Nation's farmers and ranchers a 
priority here in Washington.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). Without objection, it 
is so ordered.