Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I rise today to introduce legislation to place a pause on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) irresponsible actions in moving forward toward approving a waiver for an increase in ethanol in fuel.

Currently, gasoline contains a 10 percent blend wall of ethanol, known as E-10. The EPA is considering increasing the allowable amount of ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent, or E-15. This, despite the EPA not performing any of its own studies on the matter, and relying entirely on outside studies. I questioned Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy regarding the EPA’s decision to move forward with a waiver for E-15, and was wholly dissatisfied with her responses as to the research EPA has done itself on the safety of increasing to this level of ethanol. She deferred entirely to outside groups and to the Department of Energy’s research. Does EPA not employ its own scientists and experts? Is EPA’s position that it is incapable of doing its own research? We saw that EPA was inept at performing its own ‘climate science’ research, I suppose we could expect no different with the safety of ethanol levels.

But this is serious business. If EPA approves this waiver, car engines, lawn mowers, tractors – any engine that uses gasoline, could be potentially at risk for catching fire or having mechanical failure. Moreover, businesses tasked with selling this new gasoline with increased ethanol could face potential lawsuits from consumers who fail to follow posted signs warning them that E-15 should only be used in newer engines. Does anyone truly believe that mis-fillings and misunderstandings of the sign won’t lead to disastrous results? The fact that EPA is even considering this change proves they simply don’t care.

I’m not necessarily opposed to increasing the level of ethanol in fuel – if it’s done responsibly, and with sound science to back it up. I don’t believe EPA has done its due diligence, and certainly nothing EPA has provided to the Energy & Commerce Committee would disprove my fears. This bill will allow for a pause – before EPA hastily approves any further ethanol in fuel – for more studies to be conducted and more assurances to be made that an increase in the blend wall for ethanol will be safe. The security of the public’s well-being should be paramount in this case.

With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back.