{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20131102125551/http://goodlatte.house.gov/press_releases/467", "169 BIPARTISAN MEMBERS URGE EPA TO LOWER RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert Goodlatte", "G000289", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "169 BIPARTISAN MEMBERS URGE EPA TO LOWER RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD \n                      \n                      \tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Steve Womack (R-AR) sent a letter today to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy urging her to consider a fair and meaningful adjustment to the ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA): \u201cWhether it\u2019s increasing amounts of ethanol in fuel or higher food and feed prices, the RFS continues to negatively impact American consumers and the economy.\u00a0 The demands of the current RFS are unrealistic and are causing great uncertainty.\u00a0 As the blendwall approaches, it is clear that this flawed policy is not working.\u00a0 The growing support from Members of Congress from across the nation and a diverse coalition of outside groups makes it clear that we must consider real legislative reforms to this mandate.\u00a0 In the meantime, I urge Administrator McCarthy to take immediate action to provide much needed relief from the RFS.\u201d Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT): \u201cWhile well-intentioned, the federal ethanol mandate is inflicting significant economic harm on families by driving up food prices, on dairy farmers by driving up feed prices, and on homeowners and outdoorsmen by ruining small engines.\u00a0 Administrator McCarthy has at her fingertips the authority to push the pause button so that Congress can reevaluate this misguided policy before more harm is done. She should do so immediately.\u201d Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR): \u201cThe RFS is unrealistic, and the EPA knows it.\u00a0 It is time for the agency to exercise its authority and provide immediate and much-needed relief to American consumers and our economy by adjusting the RFS.\u201d A PDF copy of the letter is available here. The full text is below:  \n                      \t\u00a0  \n                      \tDear Administrator McCarthy:  \n                      \t\u00a0  \n                      \tNearly eight years ago, Congress approved the Energy Policy Act of 2005, establishing the first Renewable Fuel Standard (\u201cRFS\u201d).\u00a0 In 2007, Congress significantly expanded the 2005 law when it passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which increased the mandate to 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022.\u00a0 Unfortunately, despite the best intentions of the RFS, its premise and structure were based on many assumptions that no longer reflect the current market conditions, and the imposition of the 2014 volumes now threatens to cause economic and environmental harm.\u00a0\u00a0 As Congress continues its bi-partisan work to address these concerns, we are writing to request that the EPA use its authority to adjust the 2014 RFS volumes. As you are aware, the U.S. corn market has been increasingly volatile since the expansion of the RFS in 2007.\u00a0 This reflects the reality that more than 40 percent of the corn crop now goes into ethanol production, a dramatic rise since the first ethanol mandates were put into place in 2005.\u00a0 While well intentioned, the rigid nature of the federal law has not allowed it to change as new realities emerge in the market place.\u00a0 Ethanol now consumes more corn than animal agriculture, a fact directly attributable to the federal mandate.\u00a0 Corn price volatility is just one example of the economic harm caused by the RFS. Due to the dramatic expansion of corn ethanol, volatile corn prices have led to the conversion of millions of acres of sensitive wetlands and grasslands into production. According to the EPA's analysis, the lifecycle emissions of corn ethanol in 2012 were higher than those of gasoline \u2013 and will be for years to come.\u00a0 Despite promised environmental benefits when the RFS was implemented, the National Academy of Sciences has noted that overall ethanol production and use lowers air and water quality. Perhaps the newest challenge is the imposition of the statutory requirement of 18.15 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2014, of which approximately 14.4 billion gallons will be made up by corn ethanol.\u00a0 In particular, the combination of rising ethanol mandates and declining gasoline demand has exacerbated the onset of the E10 blendwall- the point at which the gasoline supply is saturated with the maximum amount of ethanol that current vehicles, engines, and infrastructure can safely accommodate.\u00a0 The EPA explicitly acknowledged this challenge in its final rule implementing the 2013 volumes\u2014\u201cEPA does not currently foresee a scenario in which the market could consume enough ethanol sold in blends greater than E10, and/or produce sufficient volumes of non-ethanol biofuels to meet the volumes of total renewable fuel and advanced biofuel as required by statute for 2014.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 We understand that the EPA signaled its intention to address these concerns in the 2014 rulemaking and commend the EPA\u2019s willingness to use the authority Congress granted to it when crafting the RFS. While the blendwall is a pressing issue, the federal government can help avoid a dangerous economic situation by adjusting the normally rigid Renewable Fuel Standard mandate down to align with gasoline market conditions and realities.\u00a0 We therefore urge the EPA to consider a fair and meaningful nationwide adjustment to the ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard.\u00a0 Prompt action by the EPA can help to ease short supply concerns, prevent engine damage, save jobs across many U.S. industries, and keep families fed.\u00a0 We strongly urge you to exercise your authority and take the necessary steps to protect American consumers and the economy.\u00a0 Thank you for your immediate consideration of this request.\n                      \n                      \tFull List of Members: Aderholt, Robert B. (R-AL, 4th)  \n                      \tAmodei, Mark (R-NV, 2nd)  \n                      \tAndrews, Robert E. (D-NJ, 1st)  \n                      \tBarletta, Lou (R-PA, 11th)  \n                      \tBarrow, John (D-GA, 12th)  \n                      \tBenishek, Dan (R-MI, 1st)  \n                      \tBentivolio, Kerry (R-MI, 11th)  \n                      \tBilirakis, Gus (R-FL, 12th)  \n                      \tBlack, Diane (R-TN, 6th)  \n                      \tBlackburn, Marsha W. (R-TN, 7th)  \n                      \tBoustany, Charles W. (R-LA, 3rd)  \n                      \tBrady, Kevin (R-TX, 8th)  \n                      \tBridenstine, Jim (R-OK, 1st)  \n                      \tBrooks, Mo (R-AL, 5th)  \n                      \tBroun, Paul (R-GA, 10th)  \n                      \tBurgess, Michael C. (R-TX, 26th)  \n                      \tButterfield, G. K. (D-NC, 1st)  \n                      \tCalvert, Ken (R-CA, 42nd)  \n                      \tCampbell, John (R-CA, 45th)  \n                      \tCapito, Shelley Moore (R-WV, 2nd)  \n                      \tCarter, John R. (R-TX, 31st)  \n                      \tChabot, Steve (R-OH, 1st)  \n                      \tChaffetz, Jason (R-UT, 3rd)  \n                      \tCoble, Howard (R-NC, 6th)  \n                      \tCole, Tom (R-OK, 4th)  \n                      \tCollins, Chris (R-NY, 27th)  \n                      \tCollins, Doug (R-GA, 9th)  \n                      \tConaway, Mike (R-TX, 11th)  \n                      \tConnolly, Gerry (D-VA, 11th)  \n                      \tCook, Paul J. (R-CA, 8th)  \n                      \tCosta, Jim (D-CA, 16th)  \n                      \tCotton, Tom (R-AR, 4th)  \n                      \tCrawford, Rick (R-AR, 1st)  \n                      \tCuellar, Henry (D-TX, 28th)  \n                      \tCulberson, John (R-TX, 7th)  \n                      \tDaines, Steve (R-MT, At Large)  \n                      \tDeFazio, Peter A. (D-OR, 4th)  \n                      \tDenham, Jeff (R-CA, 10th)  \n                      \tDent, Charles (R-PA, 15th)  \n                      \tDeSantis, Ron (R-FL, 6th)  \n                      \tDesJarlais, Scott (R-TN, 4th)  \n                      \tDiaz-Balart, Mario (R-FL, 25th)  \n                      \tDuncan, Jeff (R-SC, 3rd)  \n                      \tDuncan, John J. Jr. (R-TN, 2nd)  \n                      \tEllmers, Renee (R-NC, 2nd)  \n                      \tFarenthold, Blake (R-TX, 27th)  \n                      \tFincher, Stephen (R-TN, 8th)  \n                      \tFleischmann, Chuck (R-TN, 3rd)  \n                      \tFleming, John (R-LA, 4th)  \n                      \tFlores, Bill (R-TX, 17th)  \n                      \tFoxx, Virginia (R-NC, 5th)  \n                      \tFranks, Trent (R-AZ, 8th)  \n                      \tFrelinghuysen, Rodney (R-NJ, 11th)  \n                      \tGallego, Pete (D-TX, 23rd)  \n                      \tGaramendi, John (D-CA, 3rd)  \n                      \tGarrett, Scott (R-NJ, 5th)  \n                      \tGerlach, Jim (R-PA, 6th)  \n                      \tGibson, Chris (R-NY, 19th)  \n                      \tGingrey, Phil (R-GA, 11th)  \n                      \tGohmert, Louie (R-TX, 1st)  \n                      \tGoodlatte, Bob (R-VA, 6th)  \n                      \tGosar, Paul (R-AZ, 4th)  \n                      \tGranger, Kay (R-TX, 12th)  \n                      \tGraves, Tom (R-GA, 14th)  \n                      \tGreen, Gene (D-TX, 29th)  \n                      \tGriffin, Tim (R-AR, 2nd)  \n                      \tGriffith, Morgan (R-VA, 9th)  \n                      \tHall, Ralph M. (R-TX, 4th)  \n                      \tHanna, Richard L. (R-NY, 22nd)  \n                      \tHarper, Gregg (R-MS, 3rd)  \n                      \tHarris, Andy (R-MD, 1st)  \n                      \tHeck, Joe (R-NV, 3rd)  \n                      \tHensarling, Jeb (R-TX, 5th)  \n                      \tHimes, Jim (D-CT, 4th)  \n                      \tHinojosa, Rub\u00e9n (D-TX, 15th)  \n                      \tHolding, George E. (R-NC, 13th)  \n                      \tHultgren, Randy (R-IL, 14th)  \n                      \tHunter, Duncan D. (R-CA, 50th)  \n                      \tHurt, Robert (R-VA, 5th)  \n                      \tIssa, Darrell (R-CA, 49th)  \n                      \tJohnson, Sam (R-TX, 3rd)  \n                      \tJones, Walter B. (R-NC, 3rd)  \n                      \tKelly, Mike (R-PA, 3rd)  \n                      \tKingston, Jack (R-GA, 1st)  \n                      \tKuster, Ann McLane (D-NH, 2nd)  \n                      \tLabrador, Ra\u00fal (R-ID, 1st)  \n                      \tLaMalfa, Doug (R-CA, 1st)  \n                      \tLamborn, Doug (R-CO, 5th)  \n                      \tLance, Leonard (R-NJ, 7th)  \n                      \tLankford, James (R-OK, 5th)  \n                      \tLoBiondo, Frank A. (R-NJ, 2nd)  \n                      \tLong, Billy (R-MO, 7th)  \n                      \tLuj\u00e1n, Ben R. (D-NM, 3rd)  \n                      \tLummis, Cynthia M. (R-WY, At Large)  \n                      \tMarchant, Kenny E. (R-TX, 24th)  \n                      \tMarino, Tom (R-PA, 10th)  \n                      \tMatheson, Jim (D-UT, 4th)  \n                      \tMcCarthy, Kevin (R-CA, 23rd)  \n                      \tMcCaul, Michael (R-TX, 10th)  \n                      \tMcClintock, Tom (R-CA, 4th)  \n                      \tMcHenry, Patrick (R-NC, 10th)  \n                      \tMcKinley, David B. (R-WV, 1st)  \n                      \tMcMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA, 5th)  \n                      \tMeadows, Mark (R-NC, 11th)  \n                      \tMeehan, Pat (R-PA, 7th)  \n                      \tMichaud, Mike (D-ME, 2nd)  \n                      \tMiller, Jeff (R-FL, 1st)  \n                      \tMoran, Jim (D-VA, 8th)  \n                      \tMullin, Markwayne (R-OK, 2nd)  \n                      \tMulvaney, Mick (R-SC, 5th)  \n                      \tNeugebauer, Randy (R-TX, 19th)  \n                      \tNugent, Richard (R-FL, 11th)  \n                      \tNunes, Devin (R-CA, 22nd)  \n                      \tNunnelee, Alan (R-MS, 1st)  \n                      \tOlson, Pete (R-TX, 22nd)  \n                      \tOwens, Bill (D-NY, 21st)  \n                      \tPalazzo, Steven (R-MS, 4th)  \n                      \tPearce, Steve (R-NM, 2nd)  \n                      \tPerry, Scott (R-PA, 4th)  \n                      \tPingree, Chellie M. (D-ME, 1st)  \n                      \tPittenger, Robert (R-NC, 9th)  \n                      \tPitts, Joe (R-PA, 16th)  \n                      \tPoe, Ted (R-TX, 2nd)  \n                      \tPosey, Bill (R-FL, 8th)  \n                      \tPrice, Tom (R-GA, 6th)  \n                      \tRadel, Trey (R-FL, 19th)  \n                      \tReed, Tom (R-NY, 23rd)  \n                      \tRice, Tom (R-SC, 7th)  \n                      \tRichmond, Cedric L. (D-LA, 2nd)  \n                      \tRigell, Scott (R-VA, 2nd)  \n                      \tRoe, Phil (R-TN, 1st)  \n                      \tRogers, Mike (R-MI, 8th)  \n                      \tRohrabacher, Dana (R-CA, 48th)  \n                      \tRooney, Tom (R-FL, 17th)  \n                      \tRoss, Dennis A. (R-FL, 15th)  \n                      \tRothfus, Keith J. (R-PA, 12th)  \n                      \tSanchez, Loretta (D-CA, 46th)  \n                      \tSchrader, Kurt (D-OR, 5th)  \n                      \tSchweikert, David (R-AZ, 6th)  \n                      \tScott, Austin (R-GA, 8th)  \n                      \tScott, Bobby (D-VA, 3rd)  \n                      \tScott, David (D-GA, 13th)  \n                      \tSensenbrenner, Jim Jr. (R-WI, 5th)  \n                      \tSessions, Pete (R-TX, 32nd)  \n                      \tShuster, Bill (R-PA, 9th)  \n                      \tSimpson, Mike (R-ID, 2nd)  \n                      \tSmith, Chris (R-NJ, 4th)  \n                      \tSmith, Lamar S. (R-TX, 21st)  \n                      \tStewart, Chris (R-UT, 2nd)  \n                      \tThompson, Bennie G. (D-MS, 2nd)  \n                      \tThompson, Glenn W. (R-PA, 5th)  \n                      \tThornberry, Mac (R-TX, 13th)  \n                      \tValadao, David G. (R-CA, 21st)  \n                      \tVeasey, Marc (D-TX, 33rd)  \n                      \tVela, Filemon (D-TX, 34th)  \n                      \tWalberg, Tim (R-MI, 7th)  \n                      \tWalden, Greg (R-OR, 2nd)  \n                      \tWeber, Randy (R-TX, 14th)  \n                      \tWebster, Daniel A. (R-FL, 10th)  \n                      \tWelch, Peter (D-VT, At Large)  \n                      \tWestmoreland, Lynn A. (R-GA, 3rd)  \n                      \tWilliams, Roger (R-TX, 25th)  \n                      \tWilson, Joe (R-SC, 2nd)  \n                      \tWittman, Rob (R-VA, 1st)  \n                      \tWolf, Frank R. (R-VA, 10th)  \n                      \tWomack, Steve (R-AR, 3rd)  \n                      \tWoodall, Rob (R-GA, 7th)  \n                      \tYoho, Ted (R-FL, 3rd)  \n                      \tYoung, Don (R-AK, At Large)\n                      \n                      \t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://web.archive.org/web/20131102125551/http://goodlatte.house.gov/press_releases/467"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1517680250108242, "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"}