By: Jacob Sexton — [email protected]
Washington D.C. — Iowa Senator Joni Ersnt (R) secured a provision for Iowa farmers in the new Transportation Infrastructure Act as E-15 and E-85 will be included in the infrastructure grant program.
Originally the bill did not include the ethanol blended fuels which Ernst brought attention to in her speech before the committee on Environment and Public Works. Ernst urged the committee to include all biofuels like ethanol or scrap the bill entirely.
“But what I do have an issue with is the fact that this section neglects to include biofuels. Namely, the blends of E-15 and E-85 and other advanced biofueling technologies. I encouraged my colleagues on the committee to include biofuels in the program but there wasn’t enough support to this provision in the bill we are considering today (Tuesday). If all emissions reducing fuels aren’t going to be treated equally by this program, then my preference is to do away with the program entirely.” – Joni Ernst
This provision was then added to the bill which will also includes any state to use non-used federal highway funding for lock and dam modernization and a grant program to help states and local entities rehabilitate or replace structurally deficient bridges. The five year transportation package now moves to the Senate floor to be considered by all Senators.