By Lesly McNitt
After spending valuable time with family and friends over the holidays, I was eager to get back to work advocating for the nation’s corn growers. But as my family and I prepared to return to Washington from a trip to Puerto Rico, we learned that the island’s airspace was closed due to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, causing flight cancellations and delays. Thanks to modern technology and my amazing team, I was able to work out of NCGA’s “Caribbean office” for a few days.
This experience is illustrative of life and political advocacy. We can make plans, but those plans can be shaped or even halted by events beyond our control. This truism shapes our work at the National Corn Growers Association. As we lobby in Washington, we realize we must ride the political waves, adapt and seize opportunities when they present themselves.
That’s exactly what we are doing as we work this month to push for immediate passage of legislation in Congress that would allow for year-round access to fuels with 15% ethanol blends nationwide.
As you may be aware, absent a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency, the sale of these higher blends of ethanol, referred to as E15, is prohibited during the summer months because of an outdated clause in the Clean Air Act. It will require an act of Congress to allow the consistent sale of E15 over the summer months, which would create the certainty needed to increase demand and help stabilize the farm economy.
So, to make that possible, we are cutting through the controversies of the day and identifying potential legislative vehicles that will help us win.
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