United States Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) today joined Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and seven other cosponsors to introduce The Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2013.
The bill eliminates the corn ethanol mandate within the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires a yearly increase in the amount of renewable fuel that must be blended into the total volume of gasoline refined and consumed in the United States.
The RFS, which was first enacted in 2005 and then expanded in 2007, requires refiners and blenders to use 16.55 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2013.
“In 2005, Congress bought into the corn ethanol mandate for billions of dollars, and taxpayers have been stuck with a lemon ever since,” said Flake. “Congress can no longer justify a policy that props up the ethanol industry at the expense of consumers, the hungry, taxpayers and the environment. I am pleased to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting the full and immediate repeal of the corn ethanol mandate.”
The bill is also cosponsored by Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bob Corker, (R-TN), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jim Risch (R-ID) and Patrick Toomey (R-PA).