The House of Representatives removed E15 provisions from a funding package
Members of the agriculture and renewable fuels industries are unhappy with the House’s decision to remove language surrounding E15 from a funding package bill.
Lawmakers working on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, a $1.2 trillion spending package which passed in the House on Jan. 22, identified year-round sales of E15 as an obstacle and opted not to include any language around it to ensure the bill receives Senate support.
“We pushed hard for E-15 in this week’s appropriations bill, but leadership determined it would not pass the Senate,” Illinois Republican Congressman Don Bacon told constituents in a Facebook post. “The last thing we wanted was a shutdown. We have a commitment to get a standalone E-15 vote in the coming two months and give us time to negotiate with the Senate to ensure it passes.”
But farmers and renewable fuel industry reps aren’t interested in future votes.
“Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way,” Jed Bower, president of the National Corn Growers Association, said in a statement.
As a compromise to fellow lawmakers pushing for year-round E15, the spending package included a commitment to create an E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council once the bill passes.
This group will further explore topics related to E15 and is scheduled to submit recommendations to Congress by Feb. 15.
It’s unnecessary and will only delay year-round sales of E15 further, Bower said.
“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,” he said in his statement. “Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.”
The Renewable Fuels Association is also unhappy with Congress’s decision.
Excluding year-round E15 in favor of a working group does nothing for anyone.
“Starting from scratch makes absolutely no sense. Farmers need real solutions right now, not more foot-dragging and more debate,” Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA, said in a statement. “The agriculture sector is facing a historic economic crisis, and the only way out is to immediately open new markets for American crops.”
President Trump stands ready to sign legislation regarding year-round E15 sales.
The president said as much during a rally in Iowa on Jan. 27.
When Speaker Mike Johnson and Leader John Thune present the president with a year-round E15 bill, “I will sign it without delay,” Trump said.