Farm to Fly Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-6271
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]
Introduced: 2023-11-07
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Air quality

Alternative and renewable resources

Aviation and airports

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Energy efficiency and conservation

Manufacturing

Motor fuels
Latest action: action_date: 2024-03-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-11-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Farm to Fly Act of 2023</strong></p><p>This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to integrate the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels into its programs.</p><p>Specifically, this bill includes sustainable aviation fuel as an advanced&nbsp;biofuel for the purposes of several USDA&nbsp;bioenergy programs that primarily provide support and incentives for renewable energy projects.</p><p>For purposes of these programs, the bill defines <em>sustainable aviation fuel</em> as liquid fuel, the portion of which is not kerosene, which (1) meets specific international standards, (2) is not derived from coprocessing specific materials (e.g., triglycerides) with a non-biomass feedstock, (3) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum, and (4) is certified as having a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage of at least 50% compared with petroleum-based jet fuel (based on specific standards and agreements).</p><p>In addition, the bill specifically&nbsp;includes fostering and advancing sustainable aviation fuels as part of the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program.</p><p>Further, USDA must carry out a comprehensive and integrated pursuit of all USDA mission areas for the advancement of sustainable aviation fuels, including through</p><ul><li>the identification of opportunities to maximize the development and commercialization of the fuels,</li><li>supporting rural economic development through improved sustainability for aviation, and</li><li>advancing public-private partnerships.</li></ul>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6271 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 7, 2023 Mr. Miller of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Flood , Ms. Craig , Mr. Finstad , Ms. Budzinski , Mrs. Hinson , Ms. Crockett , Mr. Feenstra , and Mr. Nunn of Iowa ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend certain agricultural laws with respect to the definition of biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Farm to Fly Act of 2023 . 2. Purposes and findings (a) Purposes The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To enable access for sustainable aviation fuels within Department of Agriculture bio-energy programs to foster alternative biofuels in national aviation, expanding the fuel supply, promoting clean energy sources, and supporting United States agriculture. (2) To recognize the critical role the United States agricultural sector plays in the production of sustainable aviation fuel and the importance of such fuel to achieving the goals of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge. (b) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Sustainable aviation fuels have the capacity to increase domestic energy security, support the agricultural sector, and foster the farm economy by accelerating the availability of a commercially viable and sustainable aviation biofuel industry in the United States. (2) Sustainable aviation fuels provide a critical opportunity to support farmers of the United States and the rest of the agricultural sector in the sector’s partnership with the aviation sector to support rural economic development. (3) Feedstocks have been identified for sustainable aviation fuels due to the collective abundance and perceived sustainability attributes of such feedstocks. (4) Sustainable aviation fuels will increase domestic energy security, create new markets for farmers of the United States while providing a new energy resource for the aviation sector. 3. Definitions Section 9001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8101 ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)(B)— (A) in clause (iv) by inserting and sustainable aviation fuel after diesel-equivalent fuel ; (B) by redesignating clauses (v) through (vii) as clauses (vi) through (viii), respectively; and (C) by inserting after clause (iv) the following: (v) biofuel, including sustainable aviation fuel, produced from an intermediate ingredient or feedstock; ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (18) Sustainable aviation fuel (A) In general The term sustainable aviation fuel means liquid fuel, the portion of which is not kerosene, which— (i) meets the requirements of— (I) ASTM International Standard D7566; or (II) the Fischer Tropsch provisions of ASTM International Standard D1655, Annex A1; (ii) is not derived from coprocessing an applicable material (or materials derived from an applicable material) with a feedstock which is not biomass; (iii) is not derived from palm fatty acid distillates or petroleum; and (iv) has been certified in accordance with subparagraph (B)(iii) as having a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage of at least 50 percent. (B) Other definitions For purposes of subparagraph (A): (i) Applicable material The term “applicable material” means— (I) monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides; (II) free fatty acids; and (III) fatty acid esters. (ii) Biomass The term “biomass” has the meaning given such term in section 45K(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (iii) Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage The term “lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction percentage” means, with respect to any sustainable aviation fuel, the percentage reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions achieved by such fuel as compared with petroleum-based jet fuel, as defined in accordance with— (I) the most recent Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation which has been adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization with the agreement of the United States; or (II) the most recent determinations under the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model developed by Argonne National Laboratory. . 4. Farm to Fly collaboration initiative The Secretary of Agriculture shall take such actions as are necessary to carry out a comprehensive and integrated pursuit of all Department of Agriculture mission areas for the advancement of Sustainable Aviation Fuels through— (1) ensuring leadership working across Department of Agriculture agencies to maximize effectiveness; (2) identification of opportunities to maximize Sustainable Aviation Fuels development and commercialization; (3) leveraging the capabilities of America’s farmers, foresters, and the agricultural sector in capturing the opportunities presented by the emerging Sustainable Aviation Fuels market; (4) supporting rural economic development through improved sustainability for aviation; and (5) advancing public private partnerships through collaboration complementing Federal Government efforts. 5. Biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product manufacturing assistance Section 9003(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8103(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and (ii) by inserting after clause (i) the following: (ii) sustainable aviation fuel; ; and (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and (ii) by inserting after clause (i) the following: (ii) sustainable aviation fuel; ; and (C) by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (2) in paragraph (4) by striking the period and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (5) foster and advance sustainable aviation fuels. .