Legislative Actions: Federal

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has been involved in shaping public policy related to the increased production and use of domestically produced ethanol since 1981. The RFA serves as a vital link between the industry and the federal government, including the U.S. Congress, the Administration, and regulatory agencies.

This web page includes a wealth of information on advocacy, issues and the federal policymaking process. Below you will find a list of ethanol-related bills introduced in the 111th Congress. For more information on a specific bill, please visit Thomas, the source of Congressional Legislative Information. We have also included links to the House and Senate web sites in the buttons on the right, where you can access legislative schedules, committee information and Member home pages.

Find out if your Member of Congress participates in the Congressional Biofuels Caucus. The caucus represents a strong coalition of Members supporting efforts to promote growth in the U.S. ethanol and biodiesel industries.

Senate

Bill #

 Sponsor Summary Status
S. 3576 Klobuchar, MN A bill to promote the production and use of renewable energy, and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on Finance 7/13/10.
S. 3464 Lugar, IN A bill to establish an energy and climate policy framework to reach measurable gains in reducing dependence on foreign oil, saving Americans money, improving energy security, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and for other purposes. Referred to the Committtee on Finance 6/9/10.
S. 3338 Nelson, FL Advanced Biofuel Investment Act of 2010 Referred to the Committee on Finance 5/11/10.
S. 3231 Grassley, IA A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain tax incentives for alcohol used as fuel and to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to extend additional duties on ethanol.
Referred to the Committee on Finance 4/20/10.
S. 1733 Kerry, MA A bill to create clean energy jobs, promote energy independence, reduce global warming pollution, and transition to a clean energy economy. Referred to the Committee on Environment & Public Works 9/30/09.
S. 1666 Collins, ME A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to satisfy certain conditions before issuing to producers of mid-level ethanol blends a waiver from certain requirements under the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Environment & Public Works 9/14/09.
S. 1627 Harkin, IA A bill to improve choices for consumers for vehicles and fuel, and for other purposes. Referred to the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee 8/6/09.
S. 1250 Nelson, FL A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the definition of cellulosic biofuel to include algae-based biofuel for purposes of the cellulosic biofuel producer credit and the special allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property.
Referred to the Finance Committee 6/11/09.
S. 1148 Grassley, IA A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to modify a provision relating to the renewable fuel program.
Referred to the Environment & Public Works Committee 5/21/09.
S. 1095 Wyden, OR A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to convert the renewable fuel standard into a low-carbon fuel standard, and for other purposes.
Referred to the Environment & Public Works Committee 5/20/09.
S. 943 Thune, SD A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to permit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to waive the lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements for renewable fuel production, and for other purposes. Referred to the Environment & Public Works Committee 4/30/09.
S. 835 Brownback, KS A bill to require automobile manufacturers to ensure that not less than 80 percent of the automobiles manufactured or sold in the United States by each such manufacturer to operate on fuel mixtures containing 85 percent ethanol, 85 percent methanol, or biodiesel. Referred to the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee 4/20/09.
S. 807 Nelson, NE A bill to reduce fuel prices and improve national energy security by increasing domestic supply, reducing excessive speculation in the markets, and promoting long-term security through alternative energy sources, and for other purposes.
Referred to the Finance Committee 4/2/09.
S. 774 Dorgan, ND A bill to enhance the energy security of the United States by diversifying energy sources for onroad transport, increasing the supply of energy resources, and strengthening energy infrastructure, and for other purposes. Referred to the Finance Committee 4/1/09.
S. 737 Collins, ME A bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to authorize the Secretary of Energy to conduct research, development, and demonstration to make biofuels more compatible with small nonroad engines, and for other purposes. Referred to the Energy & Natural Resources Committee 3/30/09.
S. 636 Thune, SD A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to conform the definition of renewable biomass to the definition given the term in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.
Referred to the Environment & Public Works Committee 3/18/09.
S. 622 Feinstein, CA A bill to ensure parity between the temporary duty imposed on ethanol and tax credits provided on ethanol.
Referred to the Finance Committee 3/17/09.
S. 587 Lugar, IN A bill to establish a Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum to establish partnerships with interested countries in the hemisphere to promote energy security through the accelerated development of sustainable biofuels production and energy alternatives, research, and infrastructure, and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 3/12/09.
S. 536 Wyden, OR A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to modify the definition of the term "renewable biomass". Referred to the Environment & Public Works Committee 3/5/09.
S. 323 Conrad, ND A bill to provide infrastructure, nutrition, and housing assistance to rural areas of the United States. Referred to the Finance Committee 1/26/09.
S. 306 Nelson, NE A bill to promote biogas production, and for other purposes. Referred to the Finance Committee 1/22/09.

House

Bill #

 Sponsor Summary Status
H.R. 5778 Ross, AR The Renewable Fuels Marketing Act of 2010 Referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee 7/20/10.
H.R. 5757 Fortenberry, NE The Renewable Fuels for America's Future Act of 2010 Referred to the Ways and Means Committee, and in addition the Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce Committees 7/15/10.
H.R. 5633 Herseth Sandlin, SD
 A bill to improve choices for consumers for vehicles, and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 6/29/10.
H.R. 5632 Herseth Sandlin, SD
 A bill to improve choices for consumers for fuel, and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 6/29/10.
H.R. 5142 Schwartz, PA To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an investment tax credit for biofuel facilities, and for other purposes. Referred to Ways & Means Committee 4/26/10.
H.R. 4940 Pomeroy, ND Renewable Fuels Reinvestment Act
Referred to House Ways & Means Committee 3/25/10.
H.R. 4674 Boswell, IA To authorize loan guarantees for projects to construct renewable fuel pipelines. Referred to Energy & Commerce and Transportation Committees 2/24/10.
H.R. 4168 Teague, NM To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the definition of cellulosic biofuel to include algae-based biofuel for purposes of the cellulosic biofuel producer credit and the special allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property.
Referred to Ways & Means Committee 12/1/09.
H.R. 3985 Van Hollen, MD To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a second generation biofuel producer credit, and for other purposes. Referred to Ways & Means Committee 11/2/09.
H.R. 3909 Halvorson, IL To enhance the energy security of the United States by encouraging investments in renewable and alternative energy and to authorize appropriations for research in and development of fungible biofuels.
Referred to Ways & Means Committee 10/22/09.
H.R. 3460 Bilbray, CA To amend the Clean Air Act to include algae-based biofuel in the renewable fuel program and amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to include algae-based biofuel in the cellulosic biofuel producer credit. Referred to Ways & Means Committee 7/31/09.
H.R. 3187 Crowley, NY To reduce and eliminate the tax credit for alcohol fuel mixtures and the tariff on imported ethanol. Referred to Ways & Means Committee 7/13/09.
H.R. 2956 Shadegg, AZ To remove the additional tariff on ethanol. Referred to Ways & Means Committee 6/18/09.
H.R. 2454 Waxman, CA To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy. Approved by the full House 6/26/09.  Pending before the Senate.
H.R. 2409 Peterson, MN To amend section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act, and for other purposes. Referred to Energy & Commerce Committee 5/14/09.
H.R. 2359 Engel, NY To ensure parity between the temporary duty imposed on ethanol and tax credits provided on ethanol. Referred to Ways & Means Committee 5/12/09.
H.R. 2283 Moran, KS To amend the Clean Air Act to permit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to waive the lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements for renewable fuel production, and for other purposes. Referred to Energy & Commerce Committee 5/6/09.
H.R. 1757 Herseth Sandlin, SD To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage increased access to alternative fuels. Referred to Ways & Means Committee 3/26/09.
H.R. 1698 Hollen, MD To establish the Green Bank to assist in the financing of qualified clean energy projects and qualified energy efficiency projects.
Referred to Ways & Means Committee 3/24/09.
H.R. 1476 Engel, NY To require automobile manufacturers to ensure that not less than 80 percent of the automobiles manufactured or sold in the United States by each such manufacturer to operate on fuel mixtures containing 85 percent ethanol, 85 percent methanol, or biodiesel. Referred to Energy & Commerce Committee 3/12/09.
H.R. 1190 Herseth Sandlin, SD To promote the use of certain materials harvested from public lands in the production of renewable fuel, and for other purposes. Referring to Energy & Commerce Committee 2/25/09.
H.R. 864 Boswell, IA To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide loan guarantees for projects to construct renewable fuel pipelines, and for other purposes. Referred to the Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials 2/5/09.