Bill Text: IA SJR2001 | 2013-2014 | 85th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A joint resolution urging the United States government to renew its commitment to farmers, lower fuel prices, and the environment by supporting a robust and sustainable renewable fuel standard, and including effective date provisions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-27 - Introduced, referred to Agriculture. S.J. 131. [SJR2001 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2013-SJR2001-Introduced.html
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
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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
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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
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