Congressional leaders
finalized a deal Tuesday to extend government
funding, approve more than $100 billion in
disaster aid and advance numerous bipartisan
priorities that had been awaiting action for
months. If approved this week as expected, the
Continuing Resolution (CR) will extend
government funding to March 14 and give the
Republican “trifecta” (Trump White House, House
and Senate Republican majorities) three months
to address government funding in line with
conservative principles.
The Tuesday
night deal comes after days of waiting,
disagreements over a disaster aid package, and
negotiations regarding last-minute attempts to
attach various program reauthorization onto the
CR, which include farm subsidy programs, a
one-year extension of the Farm Bill, and
healthcare reauthorizations. Among the
provisions is language allowing for year-round,
nationwide sales of E15. Efforts by Midwestern
lawmakers to include the E15 year-round waiver
created rifts among House Republicans who
ultimately relented to inclusion.
The
legislation removes the need for the EPA to
invoke its emergency waiver authority for summer
E15 use and overrides state petitions submitted
by Midwest Governors to remove the one pound per
square inch (psi) Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP)
volatility waiver for E10 blends in their
states. EMA was concerned that the 1 psi
exclusion waiver would likely require the
creation of a boutique fuel exclusive to the
petitioning states, thus limiting gasoline
supply to the region and other parts of the
country. Additionally, the bill grants limited
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) compliance relief
for 2018 to certain small refineries. As a
result, once President Biden signs the
Continuing Resolution (CR), E15 sales will be
allowed nationwide, taking effect immediately.
Notably, inclusion of the E15 language on an
appropriations bill opens the door to request
additional Higher Blend Infrastructure Incentive
Program (HBIIP) funding via government funding
legislation. This is in addition to HBIIP
funding opportunities EMA is pushing on
authorizing legislation like the Farm Bill. You
can view our HBIIP issue brief by
clicking here.
Upon passage of the CR
later this week, lawmakers will leave DC and
return in early January to begin the 119th
Congress. |
