News · Press Release

It’s Been a Month. Zach Nunn Continues Failing Iowa Farmers on Year-Round E-15

We’re one day out from Zach Nunn’s February 25th deadline for a vote on year-round E-15. Nunn already blew past the February 15th deadline for a deal and is barreling towards complete and total failure yet again.

REMINDER: This comes after Nunn abandoned all leverage he had on passing E-15 by rolling over and refusing to stop Republicans from stripping it out of a must-pass spending bill.
AND WHAT’S MORE: The Chair of the House Agriculture Committee already made clear E-15 will not be included in the long-delayed Farm Bill, further complicating any chance of passage. Both Nunn’s own party and Big Oil are already panning an E-15 deal.

DCCC Spokesperson Katie Smith:
“Zach Nunn caved to his D.C. bosses instead of standing up for Iowa farmers. Iowans can’t afford to wait any longer for Nunn to fail yet again – they deserve new leadership.” 

Refresh your memory:

  • Iowa Corn Growers Association: “Iowa’s corn growers are frustrated and disappointed that after spending years advocating and sharing the benefits for all Americans that comes with the passage of E15, Congress has again kicked the can down the road. There is now talk that members of Congress are planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation. We have worked on E15 for years. We already have a bill. We have already come to an agreement with the petroleum industry. There is nothing left to discuss.”
  • National Corn Growers Association: “Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again.”
  • The Hill: “…when the lower chamber teed up a vote on the funding bill on Thursday, it did not include an amendment from Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) to allow for the sales of this kind of gasoline, known as E15.”
  • Renewable Fuels Association: “We already have a compromise deal that is broadly supported by ethanol producers, farmers, large oil refiners, several small oil refiners, fuel retailers, and many other stakeholders, but lawmakers appear to be letting it slip away… Kicking the can down the road and creating a new council to study future legislative options would just exacerbate the uncertainty and apprehension already being felt across rural America. Farmers need real solutions right now, not more foot-dragging and more debate.”

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