In his statement Thursday, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue thanked supporters and urged Congress to move forward with the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
“The announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowing for the summertime sale of E-15 beginning in the summer of 2024 for eight states, including Nebraska, only strengthens the case to address this issue in Congress. Fortunately, the bipartisan and broadly supported legislative fix to this long-standing issue has already been introduced by Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer and Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-3), in the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
“While we appreciate the EPA’s efforts to expand the availability of E-15, thus boosting ethanol consumption and potential production, now is the time for Congress to move forward legislation that eliminates this confusing patchwork of state-by-state rules. Only the passage of the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act will fix this problem once and for all.
“Nebraska farmers and ranchers again thank former Governor — now Senator Pete Ricketts — for submitting the initial petition to the EPA that helped move this vital issue forward. We also want to again thank Senator Fischer and Congressman Smith for their longtime leadership and legislative efforts to move this issue forward in Congress. Lastly, Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood (NE-1) and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-2) should also be thanked for their support.”
The Nebraska Farm Bureau is grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit https://www.nefb.org/.
Categories: Nebraska, Government & Policy, Rural Lifestyle