Budzinski Celebrates House Passage of Permanent Year-Round E15
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) released the following statement following the passage of H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, of which Budzinski is a Democratic lead. The bill would eliminate an outdated regulation restricting year-round sales of E15 and would ultimately expand consumer fuel choices, strengthen domestic energy production, and provide greater certainty for agricultural producers. The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
“For years, I’ve championed permanent, year-round E15 as a win for American farmers, energy producers, and consumers. At a time when farmers are under pressure and families are feeling the strain of high gas prices, this legislation delivers much needed relief,” said Budzinski. “Today’s bipartisan action shows what’s possible when we put American energy, rural communities, and working families first. I’m proud to have helped lead this effort and urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill and get relief to the American people.”
Rep. Budzinski has been a leading House Democrat advocating for year-round nationwide E15 sales since being elected to Congress. She engaged in debate on the House Floor earlier today where she outlined the importance of passage of the bill. After introduction of the bill, in March 2024, she joined Reps. Adrian Smith, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Mark Pocan in a letter urging House leadership to pass a legislative solution allowing permanent year-round E15 sales. Later that year, the policy was included in the year-end Continuing Resolution before being removed during final negotiations. Budzinski then led Democratic colleagues in requesting seats on the Rural Domestic Energy Council and testified before the House Rules Committee urging leadership to immediately bring the negotiated agreement to the House floor.
In April, Budzinski also co-led an amendment to include the negotiated E15 language in the 2026 Farm Bill. Although Speaker Johnson pledged separate votes on both the Farm Bill and E15 policy, only the Farm Bill ultimately received a vote.
Today, the Congresswoman was proud to join nearly 100 House Democrats in standing up for new market access for growers and lower gas prices for consumers.
Duckworth: House Vote on Year-Round E15 is a Win for Consumers and Farmers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of allowing the sale of year-round gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol (E15) to support American farmers, help keep consumer costs down, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our national and energy security:
“With gas prices rising to $4.50 a gallon because of Trump’s illegal war of choice, selling E15 year-round would support our farmers and offer consumers a cheaper, cleaner option at the pump while reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Prioritizing homegrown biofuels and year-round E15 encourages job growth, ensures future markets for our farmers, strengthens our national security and secures our nation’s leadership in the energy sector for years to come.
“Committing to our agriculture industry and supporting our Midwest farmers is a critical element of our transition to lower emissions. After years of pushing for this policy, I’m pleased the House passed this critical legislation. And if Donald Trump is serious about keeping his promise to lower costs, he would do everything he can to help ensure this legislation passes through the Senate.”
In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels. To help increase the availability of E15 biofuels, Duckworth helped introduce the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. In 2024, she helped introduced the Farm to Fly Act to help accelerate the production and development of SAF. Earlier this year, Duckworth slammed Republicans after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson secretly stripped a bipartisan compromise on E15 gasoline from must-pass government funding legislation that would have supported American farmers and lowered costs. Duckworth is also a founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Caucus.
