HULL, Iowa—During today’s markup on the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion tax and spend bill, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee adopted two of Rep. Feenstra’s (IA-04) amendments that will bolster research, development, and demonstration in biofuels technology. The amendments both passed with unanimous support.
These are the first biofuels proposals to be officially adopted in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill.
“Since Pres. Biden has completely failed to live up to his promise to ‘promote and advance’ biofuels, I took matters into my own hands,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I am pleased that my colleagues on this committee adopted my amendments that will ensure biofuels are finally included in Pres. Biden’s bloated budget bill. I will continue fighting to deliver results for corn and soybean growers and biofuels producers in the 4th District and across America’s heartland.”
The amendments are as follows:
- Amendment to Add Biofuels to List of Bioenergy Technologies the Energy Department Will Develop and Demonstrate: This proposal would allow funding from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science to go towards carrying out demonstrations of advanced biofuels projects, which would include projects like the one proposed in Feenstra’s recently introduced Biofuel Cell Research Act.
Click here to watch Feenstra’s committee testimony on this amendment.
- Amendment to Research Sustainable Aviation Biofuels: This proposal would ensure that funding going to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the purpose of sustainable aviation research and development will include research into biofuels. This legislation comes after Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm directly told Feenstra in a May committee hearing that she believes biofuels and biofuel technologies have a bright future in sustainable aviation fueling — but the administration thus far has been all talk and no action.
Click here to watch Feenstra’s committee testimony on this amendment.
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