Ethanol supporters were pleased to see the Trump administration include passage of legislation to allow year-round sales of E15 in its $87.6 billion supplemental spending request to “address urgent needs related to Operation Epic Fury (OEF), in addition to other critical needs such as…supporting hardworking American farmers.”
The supplemental request to Congress from Russel Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, includes an additional $11.1 billion to support American farmers with $10 billion in temporary economic assistance for row and specialty crops planted in crop year 2026. “Furthermore, the Administration requests additional authorities that it strongly supports. These authorities include .. an urgent and needed fix that codifies the permanent, year-round sale of E-15.”
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper thanked President Trump for supporting the year-round availability of E15 in both of his terms in office. “We are very grateful for his continued leadership on this important issue,” said Cooper. “President Trump clearly recognizes that E15 helps Americans save money with each fill-up, while also strengthening the farm economy and bolstering U.S. energy security. He has called on Congress multiple times now to pass legislation that simply allows consumers to choose lower-cost E15 all year long. The House has heeded this call by passing year-round E15 legislation in May. Now it’s time for the Senate to move quickly and give Americans what they clearly want and need—relief at the pump.”
However, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released a discussion draft of a new five-year farm bill this week that left out any provisions for nationwide year-round E15 sales that, while expected, was still disappointing to biofuels and agricultural interests. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Jed Bower said, “While this Congress has few legislative days left, there is still a lengthy to-do list for agriculture, including action on the farm bill, securing Senate passage of year-round E15 and the renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Corn growers from across the country will be in Washington, D.C., the week of July 13 to advocate directly with members of Congress on these priorities.”