The House was set to vote on a bill Wednesday including 15% ethanol (E15) language favored by agriculture groups that was removed from the House-version of the farm bill, prompting backlash from some GOP members.
The House Rules Committee did not include E15 language in the 2026 farm bill rule and voted Tuesday to separate the legislation from the farm bill, clearing the way for standalone consideration. The legislation, H.R. 1346, aims to permanently authorize nationwide, year-round sales of E15 to lower fuel prices for consumers and increase demand for corn-based ethanol, which is largely backed by biofuel and agricultural groups.
The House passed the farm bill on April 30 that did not initially include the E15 provision, which prompted a standalone vote on year-round E15 Wednesday.
Representatives of the ethanol industry expressed disappointment in the ethanol delay, according to Ethanol Producer Magazine.
“As skyrocketing gas prices persist in the U.S., it’s mind-blowing that Congress continues to let a small handful of refiners hold hostage legislation that simply allows retailers to sell lower-cost E15,” Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), said. “ACE will keep helping our bipartisan champions in Congress find a path forward.” (RELATED: Anna Paulina Luna Takes Swing At John Thune As GOP Factions Battle Over MAHA-Backed Pesticide Provision)
Republican Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania wrote a letter Tuesday opposing the bill, stating that it “acts as a backdoor expansion of the ethanol mandate, squeezes out independent refineries, and further entrenches a program crafted by radical Democrats.” They argued that it is the product of the “certain refining associations and the biofuel lobby.”
“This week, we urge you to reject this failure of a proposal that further entrenches the broken [Renewable Fuel Standard] mandate and handicaps our domestic energy capability, reject crony mandates, and work together to advance legislation that supports energy freedom,” Roy and Perry wrote.
New: GOP Reps. ROY and PERRY are circulating a dear colleague letter opposing the E15 bill up for a vote this week
“The legislation we will be voting on acts as a backdoor expansion of the ethanol mandate, squeezes out independent refineries, and further entrenches a program… pic.twitter.com/GUA74ZsR4v
— Laura Weiss (@LauraEWeiss16) May 12, 2026
The five-year farm bill revises and reauthorizes federal farm programs, nutrition assistance, rural development and other Agriculture Department programs until 2031. The bill moved to the Senate, where the chamber is expected to produce its own version of the bill.
Supporters have floated the idea of merging the E15 bill into the farm bill before the Senate passes its final version, though this is not guaranteed.
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