The Trump Administration sent a supplemental budget request to Congress today. The request included an appeal to codify the permanent, year-round sale of E15 and to appropriate $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers. In response to this development, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower released the following statement: “President Trump and his administration have repeatedly and continuously demonstrated their support for Congressional approval of year-round E15. We appreciate the commitment from the administration, as well as the members of the U.S. House of Representatives who advocated for this legislation and ultimately secured its bipartisan passage. “We urge the Senate to take up this matter as quickly as possible to settle this issue once and for all, for the benefit of America’s farmers and fuel consumers alike.” “We also appreciate the administration’s recognition that, while we pursue new market expansion opportunities like E15, farmers are facing economic hardship now, and we welcome the economic assistance included in the request.”
Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, commended the Trump Administration today for calling for year-round E15 in its supplemental funding request to Congress. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued the following statement: “We appreciate the Trump Administration demonstrating its commitment to lowering costs and strengthening rural economies by securing a year-round fix for E15. Today’s supplemental request shows how critical it is to provide certainty around this bipartisan, common-sense solution. Drivers are looking to their elected leaders for relief from higher prices, and farmers are looking for new markets to ensure they can stay in business. Congress should not miss this opportunity to deliver a permanent fix for E15, giving consumers greater access to a lower-cost fuel option and more savings at the pump.”
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall today applauded the White House request to Congress for more than $11 billion in additional assistance for America’s farmers and ranchers, as well as the administration’s call for year-round access to E15 fuel. “Farmers are grateful to have the president’s backing at such a critical time after enduring years of economic losses due to inflation and depressed markets. Additional aid will give farmers optimism headed into harvest later this year as they await the benefits of enhanced farm bill programs, better market access overseas and stronger domestic demand. “Not only do we urge Congress to heed the White House call to deliver economic aid, but we also know both sides of the aisle in Congress recognize more is needed as farmers’ losses nationwide far exceed $11 billion. Over the last decade we have lost nearly 200,000 farms, so we need to stabilize the farm economy and reverse that trend. Additional aid will certainly help. “The White House also urged Congress to authorize year-round sales of E15 fuel nationwide, which we’ve long called for. Expanding access to E15 would strengthen domestic energy production, increase demand for American-grown crops and save consumers at the gas pump. That’s a win all the way around. “We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to quickly deliver supplemental aid and year-round E15, in addition to addressing other urgent priorities Farm Bureau has identified, from the farm bill to labor reform and protecting interstate commerce. We’re grateful for the broad recognition among elected leaders of the important role farmers play in our nation’s economy, energy security and food security. Ensuring the long-term strength of American agriculture is a goal we can all rally behind.”
