A bill aimed at corn ethanol that was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week is being challenged by the National Corn Growers Association.

The bill, referred to as the “Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act,” was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Susan Collins (R-MN). It’s aim is to remove the implied conventional biofuel blending requirement from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which corn growers note would result in increasing harmful emissions and use of fossil fuels.

“This bill is ill conceived and would have a devastating impact on air quality, the diversity of our energy supply, fuel prices and rural economies,” said NCGA president John Linder. “Blending ethanol into the fuel supply is one of the most effective ways to lower carbon emissions to combat climate change and replace the most toxic components of gasoline.”

“If you want to understand today’s sustainable corn and ethanol production, you can always ask a farmer for the facts. If Members of Congress want to reduce use of the low carbon renewable fuels that have enabled successful environmental policies, this bill would certainly do it,” said Linder.

Linder notes that corn growers sustainably produce more corn on less land with fewer resources than when the RFS was enacted and are committed to further improvements in sustainability. These extraordinary results have been accomplished as food price inflation has decreased as ethanol production has grown.