Overwhelming Bipartisan Vote Shows Momentum Continues to Build Against Ethanol Mandate

Washington, D.C.-Senator Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, commented on today's vote on an amendment offered by Senators Feinstein (CA) and Coburn (OK) to the Economic Development Revitalization Act (S. 782), which eliminates the excise tax credit for ethanol. The amendment (Feinstein Amendment #476) passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 73-27 in the Senate. "Today's vote clearly demonstrates that Congress pushed too much corn ethanol too fast in 2007," Senator Inhofe said. "I appreciate the efforts of Senators Feinstein and Coburn to draw attention to this issue: Congress rarely reaches such overwhelming bipartisan agreements and I hope today's vote will provide the momentum needed to make necessary changes to the corn ethanol mandate."

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Senator Inhofe has been a leading advocate for reforming the corn ethanol mandate. Last month, he introduced The Fuel Feedstock Freedom Act (S. 1085) - a bill that gives individual States the option not to participate in the corn ethanol portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It also expands the definition of the cellulosic biofuel carve-out to include algae and any non-ethanol renewable fuel derived from renewable biomass. This new feedstock-neutral definition will encourage the use of renewable feedstocks such as algae, while promoting the production of drop-in fuels, which are both engine friendly and can be readily blended and transported in the nation's existing distribution infrastructure. Link to the Fuel Feedstock Freedom Act Link to Press Release: Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Introduced to Address Ethanol Mandate Concerns

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