Coast-to-Coast Advocacy Helps Advance E15 in the House

The U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward nationwide, year-round E15 sales this week by passing H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, with a vote of 218 to 203.

IL Corn Growers Association (IL Corn) thanks all 17 of our Illinois Representatives for voting yes. We thank Rep. Nikki Budzinski for holding a press conference the day before the vote to rally bipartisanship. We thank our Illinois cosponsors on the bill, Reps. Bost, Miller, LaHood, Sorensen, Budzinski, Kelly, and Jackson for their leadership on the charge.

Leading up to the vote, agriculture and renewable fuel organizations from across the country joined forces to advocate for E15 in congressional districts where corn and ethanol production are less prevalent, helping build bipartisan support for the legislation. Advocacy teams met with more than 375 Congressional offices to discuss the benefits of year-round E15 sales and answer questions from lawmakers and staff.

IL Corn joined the effort alongside the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), state corn organizations, Growth Energy, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and ethanol plant organizations to help educate Congressional offices on the economic, consumer, and energy benefits of E15.

The meetings gave advocacy groups the opportunity to answer questions, address concerns, and provide Congressional offices with data-driven information supporting nationwide, year-round E15 sales.

Through advocacy and outreach, all 17 Illinois Representatives voted yes for the E15 legislation. IL Corn took further advocacy efforts and met with key offices from California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Arizona, and New York.

This bill will now go to the Senate as a stand-alone bill. Prior to the passage of E15, it was decoupled from the Farm Bill 2.0 and will not be a part of that package. IL Corn will now work with the Senate to get this bill onto President Trump’s desk to be signed into legislation. 

Read IL Corn’s Press Release