A bipartisan bill introduced on April 7 by U.S. Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC) would repeal the ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to help reduce corn prices and shore up the global food supply.
“The federal government should not be incentivizing farmers to grow corn for ethanol while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is jeopardizing the lives of Ukraine’s citizens and is on track to cause malnutrition across the world,” Rep. Rice said. “We need to prioritize using our agricultural resources for putting food on the table and driving down prices to help families during a time of record-breaking inflation.”
Rep. Rice sponsored the Food Before Fuel Act, H.R. 7484, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) to amend the Clean Air Act to eliminate the corn ethanol mandate for renewable fuel, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“Our country needs federal policies that are both good for the environment and our national economy, and the corn ethanol mandate is not good for either,” said Rep. Lofgren. “The mandate has not reduced emissions, as promised, and corn ethanol poses many problems, including putting a strain on the food supply.”
According to the lawmakers, ending the ethanol mandate and diverting crops destined to become biofuels into food production instead would more than compensate for the loss of Ukraine’s exports, bring down food prices, and help prevent a global food shock.
H.R. 7484 has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.