Senate Joint Resolution 2001 - Introduced SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2001 BY BEALL SENA TE JOINT RESOLUTION A Joint Resolution urging the United States government to 1 renew its commitment to farmers, lower fuel prices, and the 2 environment by supporting a robust and sustainable renewable 3 fuel standard, and including effective date provisions. 4 WHEREAS, in accordance with the federal policy including 5 the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-58, the 6 United States government has demonstrated its commitment to 7 the long-term policy of increasing the production of clean 8 renewable fuels according to a renewable fuel standard commonly 9 referred to as the RFS, by enabling the increased domestic 10 production and use of renewable fuels, which include renewable 11 biofuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, and cellulosic and 12 advanced biofuels; and 13 WHEREAS, the renewable fuel standard provides the foundation 14 for reducing this nation’s dependence on foreign sources of 15 oil, reducing the price of transportation fuels, reducing 16 transportation fuel emissions, increasing rural incomes, 17 encouraging the development and expansion of new advanced 18 biofuels, and consequently promoting economic growth; and 19 WHEREAS, the renewable fuel standard assists in bringing new 20 technologies to farmers and consumers, and points the country 21 in the direction of energy independence; and 22 WHEREAS, international turmoil has repeatedly caused 23 increased oil spikes and increased transportation costs for 24 consumers, including increased costs attributable to the 25 transportation of food and other goods; and 26 WHEREAS, biofuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and 27 WHEREAS, Iowa’s biofuels industry has added over eight 28 billion dollars to Iowa’s economy and generated two billion 29 dollars in new household income; and 30 WHEREAS, approximately ninety thousand Iowa farmers support 31 TLSB 5532SS (2) 85 da/rj

Senate Joint Resolution 2001 - Introduced their families and reinvigorate rural communities through 32 innovative and high-tech agricultural production; and 33 WHEREAS, the United States environmental protection agency 34 is responsible for establishing and implementing the renewable 35 fuel standard, including the requirement that certain volumes 36 of various types of biofuels be blended in transportation fuels 37 each year; and 38 WHEREAS, the United States environmental protection agency 39 recently proposed reducing the volume levels of ethanol and 40 biodiesel in the renewable fuel standard, in direct conflict 41 with the statute; and 42 WHEREAS, the United States environmental protection agency’s 43 proposal is estimated to cause the loss of thirty-seven 44 thousand four hundred ethanol-related jobs and the loss of 45 seven thousand five hundred biodiesel-related jobs; and 46 WHEREAS, the United States environmental protection agency’s 47 proposal will cause a reduction in the price of corn below the 48 cost of production with a negative economic impact on Midwest 49 farm families, agribusinesses, and rural communities; and 50 WHEREAS, the United States environmental protection 51 agency’s proposal will cause a substantial reduction in the 52 long-term investment in biofuels infrastructure and a reduction 53 in investments in further energy innovation for ethanol, 54 biodiesel, advanced biofuels, and cellulosic biofuels; NOW 55 THEREFORE, 56 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 57 TLSB 5532SS (2) 85 da/rj

S.J.R. 2001 Section 1. The United States government is urged to 1 renew its commitment to farmers, lower fuel prices, and the 2 environment by supporting a robust and sustainable renewable 3 fuel standard and to use all efforts to meet the highest 4 possible renewable fuel volume requirements set forth in the 5 current renewable fuel standard in order to ensure that this 6 nation diversifies its energy portfolio. 7 Sec. 2. The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives 8 shall deliver copies of this joint resolution to the Honorable 9 Barack Obama, President of the United States, to the Honorable 10 Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the United States Environmental 11 Protection Agency, to the Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of 12 Agriculture of the United States, and to each member of Iowa’s 13 congressional delegation. 14 Sec. 3. This Joint Resolution, being deemed of immediate 15 importance, takes effect upon enactment. 16 EXPLANATION 17 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 18 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 19 This joint resolution urges the United States government to 20 renew its commitment to farmers, lower fuel prices, and the 21 environment by supporting a robust and sustainable renewable 22 fuel standard (RFS) and use all efforts to meet the highest 23 possible renewable fuel volume requirements set forth in the 24 current RFS in order to ensure that this nation diversifies its 25 energy portfolio. 26 The joint resolution takes effect upon enactment, which 27 takes place after passage of the joint resolution by both 28 houses of the Iowa general assembly and upon approval by the 29 governor of the state of Iowa. 30 -1- LSB 5532SS (2) 85 da/rj 1/ 1