March 14, 2018

At Duckworth’s Request, Agriculture Secretary Perdue Commits to Fighting Efforts to Cut RFS Production, Cap Price of RINS

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured a commitment from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to oppose any policy that undermines the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and fight efforts to impose harmful price caps on renewable identification numbers (RINs). The RFS helps decrease our nation's reliance on foreign oil by requiring the use of home-grown fuel sources like biofuels, including corn-based ethanol, in gasoline. Video of Duckworth questioning Perdue and U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at today’s U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing is available here.

“I've already been to a war fought over oil, and I would rather run my car on American-grown corn and soybeans than oil from the Middle East,” Duckworth said. “The RFS plays an important role in reviving rural economies in Illinois and making our nation less dependent on foreign oils. I will continue doing all that I can to push back against policies that hurt the RFS and hope that Secretary Perdue will honor today’s commitment to do the same.”

Senator Duckworth has been a vocal supporter of the RFS, which supports more than 4,000 jobs in Illinois and generates more than $5 billion in economic impact. Nationwide, it supports 86,000 direct jobs and it has helped generate $8.7 billion in tax revenues that go to schools, roads and first responders.