Budzinski Stands Up for Farmers, Demands Sale of Year-Round E15 After Republicans Obstruct Legislative Fix

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) testified before the House Rules Committee, underscoring the need for Congress to allow year-round, nationwide sale of gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol, also known as E15. Her testimony follows House Republican leadership’s decision to drop the policy from the funding bill after a bipartisan compromise deal had been reached.

“We had a deal – a real compromise – yet House Republicans couldn’t get out of their own way. They just gave up and decided that assurances of an 'E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council' is enough to help farmers. Give me a break,” said Budzinski during her testimony. “I would love for House Republican leadership to look my farmers directly in the eye and explain how this creates certainty and a dependable economic future for our rural communities.”

As Co-Chair of the Biofuels Caucus, Budzinski has been a leading voice in the push to allow the sale of E15 year round. In 2025, she co-led the introduction of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, a bipartisan bill that would codify this into law.

To read the Congresswoman’s full testimony as prepared for delivery, see below:

Thank you, Madam Chair and Ranking Member McGovern, for holding this meeting today and allowing me the opportunity to testify.

The Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, a bipartisan bill that I am proud to co-lead, would allow gasoline blended with up to 15 percent ethanol to be sold year-round across the country.

My amendment is focused on emphasizing the urgency of this legislation, which has never been more timely and needed.

Less than two weeks ago, USDA raised its forecast for U.S. corn production to 17 billion bushels for the 2025-2026 marketing year – a record total for corn. It also showed the increase in supply outpacing demand.

This data paints a clear picture – we’re on the brink of a farm crisis… export markets are being decimated by the President’s global trade war; farmers are being priced out of their own operations.

Until late last night, we had a bipartisan agreement for year-round E15 that had support from corn growers, biofuels producers, and the oil refiners.

Compromise language reined in medium and large refineries that have taken advantage of the EPA’s small refinery exemption programs to skirt their renewable blending obligations under the RFS.

We had a deal - a real compromise - yet House Republicans couldn’t get out of their own way.

They just gave up and decided that assurances of a “Rural Energy Task Force” is enough to help farmers. Give me a break.

I would love for House Republican Leadership to look my farmers directly in the eye and explain how this creates certainty and a dependable economic future for our rural communities.

They could not be more clear – they need year-round E15. At a time when this president is only causing more uncertainty, give our farmers the certainty they deserve.

In a time when our economy is under attack by our own President, let’s give drivers at the pump and the rural economy the break they deserve. I yield back.

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