House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a last-minute breakthrough (Dec. 17, 2024) on help for farmers. A must-pass bill to avert a government shutdown will now include farm aid, giving farmers something to celebrate the Christmas season. A high-pressure lobbying effort by multiple farm groups and Johnson himself has paid off.
“What you’ll see reflected in this final package is $10 billion to start,” Johnson says. “In addition, USDA moved some things around and has added $2 billion for specialty crops they announced in late November, all of which means help is coming.”
Johnson hopes with this announcement that a great sigh of relief is coming from farm country.
“I’ve talked to several leaders in the ag community who say they’re greatly relieved,” Johnson added.
While it’s not the $15 to $20 billion the American Farm Bureau and many others were asking for, Johnson says the new aid comes not a moment too soon.
The Renewable Fuels Association today thanked congressional leaders for including a provision allowing the year-round sale of lower-cost, cleaner-burning E15 in the stop-gap funding bill text released today by the House of Representatives.
“We are very pleased to see that the long-awaited fix allowing year-round E15 is included in this package,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This language would finally remove an outdated, red-tape regulatory barrier, and we remain hopeful that the continuing resolution will move swiftly through Congress and to the president’s desk for signature. Allowing year-round sales of E15 will benefit farmers, fuel retailers, and—most importantly—consumers seeking lower-cost, cleaner fuel options at the pump.”
“RFA thanks House leadership, the Energy and Commerce Committee leadership, and dozens of House members on both sides of the aisle who staunchly advocated for the inclusion of this long-overdue provision allowing year-round E15 nationwide. We also thank the many bipartisan ethanol supporters in the Senate who have worked tirelessly on this issue over the past several years, and we look forward to them quickly taking up and passing the CR.”
At an average price of $2.62 per gallon nationwide, E15 is currently selling at an 8.7% discount to E10, saving drivers an average of 26 cents with each gallon.
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