Reps. Bustos, Walz, Nolan Meet With White House, Urge Support For Renewable Fuel Standard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Tim Walz (D-MN) and Rick Nolan (D-MN) met with senior officials at the White House to discuss the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Members shared their strong concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule on the RFS. They also stated their belief that the RFS plays a critical role as an alternative to foreign oil, while benefiting local economies across the country and creating jobs in rural communities. The Midwestern lawmakers released the following statement:
“The EPA’s proposed rule would do nothing but undercut a growing American energy industry and further our reliance on foreign oil. Biofuels allow us to take control of our energy future, promote industry innovation and create thousands of jobs in the Midwest and across the country. We would like to thank the Administration for meeting with us to discuss this important matter. As we move forward, we will continue to advocate for the EPA to abandon their proposed rule on the RFS and support American-made energy.”
Bustos, Walz and Nolan all sit on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture.
Bustos has been a strong supporter of Illinois biofuels and recognizes the important role the industry plays in rural economies. In January, Bustos met with the EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to share her constituent’s concerns over the proposal to reduce the renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the RFS. Additionally, Bustos and Republican Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-SD) led a bipartisan group of 30 Members of Congress in writing a letter to McCarthy stating their opposition to the proposal. Bustos also protested the EPA proposal on the floor of the House of Representatives.