{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://nunn.house.gov/2026/09/01/nunn-presses-epa-to-protect-iowa-biofuel-demand-after-small-refinery-exemption-decision/", "Nunn Presses EPA to Protect Iowa Biofuel Demand After Small Refinery Exemption Decision", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Zachary Nunn", "N000193", "nunn.house.gov", "nunn", "https://nunn.house.gov/category/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday announced its 2025 Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) decisions along with a plan to reallocate the Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) from the exempted biofuel volumes \u2014 protecting the demand that Iowa\u2019s farmers and biofuel producers built rather than letting it disappear.\n\n\u201cIowa\u2019s farmers and biofuel producers built the most productive renewable fuel economy in the world, and I wasn\u2019t going to stand by while Washington let that demand vanish,\u201d said Rep. Nunn. \u201cI pushed the EPA to make sure the gallons exempted this year get reallocated instead of erased, because every gallon of ethanol and biodiesel starts as a bushel of Iowa corn or a row of Iowa soybeans, and every gallon we produce domestically is one American consumers don\u2019t have to pay a higher price for from a supplier overseas.\u201d\n\nFor years, these exemptions have allowed small refineries to avoid their renewable fuel obligations without fully accounting for the lost gallons, cutting directly into the market for Iowa-grown ethanol and biodiesel. Before Monday\u2019s decision, Rep. Nunn joined the Iowa delegation in pushing the EPA to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard and ensure any exemptions granted would not come at the expense of Iowa producers. While the proposed reallocation would protect Iowa\u2019s biofuel demand, Rep. Nunn made clear the work is not finished until EPA finalizes the rule and holds the Renewable Fuel Standard whole.\n\n\u201cWashington shouldn\u2019t give with one hand and take away with the other,\u201d continued Rep. Nunn. \u201cIf EPA grants refinery exemptions, those gallons need to be fully restored, and Congress needs to finish the job on permanent year-round E15. I\u2019ll keep pushing the administration and the Senate to deliver the certainty that Iowa producers deserve.\u201d\n\nIowa\u2019s agriculture and biofuel leaders praised the reallocation and Rep. Nunn\u2019s push to secure it:\n\n\u201cClean Fuels and our members greatly appreciate the swift and effective actions taken by Rep. Nunn and our other champions in Congress to stand up for the Renewable Fuel Standard,\u201d said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs, Clean Fuels Alliance. \u201cWithout their support, our fuel producers and farmer partners would have faced another wave of unaccounted-for small refiner exemptions and the demand destruction they bring. We look forward to working with Rep. Nunn and the Administration to quickly finalize the supplemental rule that will restore these gallons and maintain the biomass-based diesel industry\u2019s record-breaking production.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Nunn and members of Congress from across the heartland were relentless in their efforts to protect a strong RFS for farmers and soybean processors across the country,\u201d said Corey McCray, Vice President of Government Relations, National Oilseed Processors Association. \u201cTheir leadership and persistence truly made a difference, and we are grateful for their unwavering support of American agriculture.\u201d\n\n\u201cIowa soybean farmers are fortunate to have strong advocates like Congressman Nunn in office who recognize that a strong RFS means a strong rural Iowa,\u201d said Matt Herman, Chief Officer of Advocacy and Demand, Iowa Soybean Association. \u201cThe Congressman and the entire Iowa delegation demonstrated yet again that they are tireless advocates for Iowa\u2019s soybean farmers. I look forward to continuing to work with the entire delegation to ensure the EPA finalizes their proposal to reallocate 100% of the lost volume.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://nunn.house.gov/2026/09/01/nunn-presses-epa-to-protect-iowa-biofuel-demand-after-small-refinery-exemption-decision/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5384280122816563, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}