Congressman: Vice President should hear from Iowans and reconsider EPA's misguided proposal
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today requested that Vice President Joe Biden meet with members of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association to hear firsthand about the positive impact the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is having on Iowa.
"It's my goal to get every top administration official, including Vice President Biden, to sit down with Iowans so that they can hear firsthand how biofuels are growing Iowa's economy, contributing to America's energy independence, and combating climate disruption," Braley said. "The EPA's misguided proposal will have a negative impact not only on Iowa but on our nation."
A recent report by Reuters explained how the vice president played an influential role on the RFS. Members of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association have requested a meeting with the Vice President in order to weigh in on the EPA's proposed change to the RFS.
"I ask that you meet with these Iowans to hear about their experiences and the impact the RFS is having on the innovation and job creation taking place in Iowa and across the U.S., and that you work with us to revise the misguided policy currently proposed by the EPA," Braley wrote.
Braley has consistently fought the proposed EPA changes since they were first reported on in October. Late last year he joined VoteVets.org to deliver over 110,000 signatures to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protesting proposed changes. In November, Braley wrote a letter to President Obama expressing his anger and frustration with the proposed EPA changes. In December, he joined Governor Branstad to testify at an EPA hearing stressing the benefits of the current levels and the positive impact the RFS has on Iowa.
The letter to Vice President Biden is available below:
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May 19, 2014
Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Vice President
United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. Vice President:
I am writing to follow up on a letter sent to you by Iowans who, like me, are gravely concerned with the Administration's position on biofuel policy. As written, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) provides an unfair advantage to big oil and threatens the future of America's growing biofuel industry.
Given the White House's history of support for the RFS, energy independence, and combating climate change, I urge you to accept a meeting with members of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. The EPA's current RFS proposal is a misguided step that would ignore the intent of the Energy Independence and Security Act and the domestic jobs and innovation resulting from renewable fuel investments. These Iowans have serious concerns with the current proposal and can provide important data and convey personal experiences reiterating the impact of the RFS on local jobs and the future of renewable energy production.
I have appreciated your support for renewable fuels in the past and am hopeful that the White House will review this policy and work with the EPA to fix the current proposal for renewable fuel blending. Investing in renewable fuels has created 63,000 jobs in Iowa - but that is just a sliver of the 400,000 jobs across America that biofuels support.
To fully invest in our clean energy future we must commit to the goals set forth in this policy and ensure that big oil companies work with us to move toward cleaner and more affordable fuel. The RFS has helped lower the cost of gas by one dollar per gallon, has saved the U.S. $50 billion in imported fuel costs, and holds the promise of replacing one-third of our gasoline by 2050.
Oil companies have worked hard to confuse the public about what is truly happening with the RFS and its impact on everything from engines to food prices. However, we have seen the Department of Energy confirm that homegrown, high-octane fuels are better for both engines and air quality.
I ask that you meet with these Iowans to hear about their experiences and the impact the RFS is having on the innovation and job creation taking place in Iowa and across the U.S., and that you work with us to revise the misguided policy currently proposed by the EPA.
Please feel free to reach out to me and my staff to help facilitate this meeting. We can be reached at 202-225-2911.
Sincerely,
Bruce Braley
U.S. House of Representatives
