Dear Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone:
The undersigned organizations encourage you, as soon as possible, to hold a Committee hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). We believe the RFS is in critical need of immediate attention, and your Committee, as the committee of jurisdiction, is the best venue in which to examine this flawed statute’s numerous failures and to consider legislative solutions.
Due to widespread public concerns with the serious unintended consequences of the RFS mandate, there is growing bipartisan interest among lawmakers in exploring how to fix this broken statute. Indeed, nearly 120 Members have cosponsored legislation in the House of Representatives to either repeal the RFS outright or to reform it significantly, and last year 189 Members sent a letter to EPA requesting a waiver from the statutory volumes.
The growing interest in the RFS is also evidenced by the fact that, between the House and Senate, there have been seven hearings on the law since 2014, six of which were held in committees which do not have jurisdiction over the RFS. These hearings have aired significant concerns with the RFS, from problems with the manner in which the statute has been administered, to the unintended consequences for food costs, conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, consumer engines, fuel costs and competitive markets. Moreover, the RFS’ costs are borne not only domestically, but also globally.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has already undertaken a substantive review of the program through its white papers and hearings in 2013. However, there have been significant events in the past three years, including EPA action to propose and withdraw rules in 2014, EPA’s decision last year to waive the RFS, and EPA’s indication that it plans to increase the volumes in the future. In addition, EPA activity on approving pathways, ongoing fraud in the Renewable Identification Number market, and issues related to post-2022 volumes deserve Congressional attention.
An Energy & Commerce Committee hearing on the RFS in the near future would be timely and welcomed by this broad group of stakeholders. We look forward to working with you on this matter in the coming weeks. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
ActionAid USA
American Bakers Association
American Frozen Food Institute
American Highway Users Alliance
American Motorcyclist Association
American Sportfishing Association
Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees
BoatU.S.
California Dairy Campaign
Clean Air Task Force
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
Franchise Management Advisory Council
Georgia Poultry Federation
Idaho Dairymen’s Association
International Dairy Foods Association
Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
Milk Producers Council
National Association of Egg Farmers
National Chicken Council
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Grocers Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Restaurant Association
National Taxpayers Union
National Turkey Federation
North American Meat Institute
Oregon Dairy Farmers Association
Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
R Street Institute
SNAC International
South East Dairy Farmers Association
Southeastern Meat Association
Southeast Milk, Inc.
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Taxpayers for Common Sense
Western United Dairymen