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COMMITTEES ARMED SERVICES 

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HEALni,EMPLOVMENT,LARON, AND PENSIONS WIGFIER EPUCATION AFJD WORKFORCE TRAINING November 6, 2013 WASHINGTON OFfiCE: 1527 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 f202)225

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DISTRICT OPFICES. 125 SCN1Tf1 ClUHUOUE STREET IowA CiTV. IA 52240 J319)351--0789
209 WEST ATH STREET,MIOJ pAVENPORT,IA 52601 (563)323-5988 11866) 914-IOWA

Gina McCarthy Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Room 3426 ARN Washington, DC 20460
Dear Administrator McCarthy, As the EPA prepares the 2014 Renewable Volurne Fuel Obligations (RVOs), I write to share my strong concern about lowering Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements. The leaked 2014 proposed RVOs indicated a potential RVO of 13 billion gallons for renewable fuel. I am greatly concerned that this reduction would have a devastating effect on rn.ual communities as well as local and state economies, and would derail the opportunity for biofuels to significantly decrease our foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. There is no doubt that the RFS has played an important role in the economies of our rural communities and states like Iowa. Since 2009, corn prices have varied greatly from under $3, to over $7.50, back to under $6, up to $8.50, and now have steadily fallen to a current price of $4.25. These fluctuations and the current dramatic fall in prices have all occurred while ethanol production grew rapidly to a record level in 2011 and has since stabilized. While the RFS has certainly consumed a portion of the corn crop, these fluctuations also include the uncertainties of agriculture and our farmers working in a climate of droughts and floods. Lowering of the renewable fuel RVO would have a devastating effect, potentially dropping the price of corn to unsustainable levels and putting our family farms and rural communities in jeopardy. As implementation of the RFS continues, it's critical that flexibility be used where needed. I believe the necessary flexibility is built into the RFS. I also question whether the EPA has the authority to significantly lower the renewable fuel volume target. It's clear that an adequate supply of conventional ethanol will be available. The EPA's only other authority to waive the requirement would be due to severe economic harm from maintaining it. However, lowering the RVO for renewable fuel would actually create severe economic hardship for our farmers, rural communities, and entire states such as Iowa. I strongly encourage the EPA to recognize how this action wouid severely hurt our economy, energy security, and the hard working, middle class folks and our communities in the middle of our country. The RFS was designed as a poiicy to increase our energy security and move toward less carbon intense fuels. The RFS is working. Largely due to a strong RFS, 10 percent of the oil used for vehicle fuel has been replaced, making us less dependent on foreign sources of oil and setting us

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPERon a path to significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. There are also ways to work around

any potential blend wall if the oil supply chain is willing to participate. From both an imports and environmental perspective, the only thing that can immediately replace ethanol in our fuel supply is more oil. Lowering the proposed 2014 RVOs to those similar to the leaked draft would reverse the progress we have made, ignore the benefits that we have seen, and increase dependence on oil. Moving forward, our country has a significant opportunity to cut our addiction to oil and greenhouse gas emissions through the use of biofuels. The potentially drastic cut in the RVOs will call into question our country's commitment to biofuels and significantly hamper investments in cellulosic and advanced biofuel options. Everyday our biofuels are getting better and better. New ethanol plants are sharply decreasing life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, and cellulosic and advanced options are already demonstrating their capabilities as low-carbon fuel alternatives. Continuing to show strong support for biofuels is critical to encouraging investments to drive our cellulosic and advanced biofuel alternatives. Thank you for your time and consideration of the importance of strong 2014 RVOs. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you would like to further discuss the importance of a strong RFS policy for Iowans, our rural economies, and continuing to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions.

a sack Iowa's Second District

Cc: Sylvia Mathews Burwell Director Office of Management and Budget Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 251 1650 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20503
Tom Vilsack Secretary U.S. Department ofAgriculture 219A Whitten Building 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250