The Farm Bill has passed the U.S. House on a tight vote without a provision that would allow nationwide, year-round sales of E15.
After stalling Wednesday night, the amended farm bill passed the House Thursday morning.
It was a close vote, pushed over the finish line by 14 Democrats who sided with Republicans. The final vote was 224-200.
Congressman Adrian Smith says he voted for the bill “to provide regulatory relief, expand market access, and equip Nebraska’s ag producers with the resources they need to succeed. But let me be clear: I will not rest until nationwide, year-round E15 is a reality once and for all.”
Congressman Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma said he couldn’t support the Farm Bill with E15 included, because of an “ethanol mandate.”
While I am hopeful to be supportive of the Farm Bill, there is currently an E15 (ethanol) mandate tacked on to the Farm Bill that I am working hard to remove. I am convinced that this will increase costs at the pump for all Americans, whether they are driving a car or operating a…
— Congressman Josh Brecheen (@RepBrecheen) April 29, 2026
“I am convinced that this will increase costs at the pump for all Americans, whether they are driving a car or operating a tractor in a field,” Rep. Brecheen said on X.
House Rules Committee Democrat Jim McGovern shared that concern.
“The Office of Management and Budget has said the E15 provision will cost billions, billions with a ‘B.’ And rather than offset it, you came up with a clever way to vote on it separately and then merge it with a farm bill at the end and send it to the Senate,” McGovern said.
The Rural Radio Network has been in contact with Congressman Adrian Smith, who says it’s not a mandate but would simply allow E15 to be sold without waivers.
Corn growers like Michael Dibbern of Hall County are exasperated.
“What more can you say? We’ve laid it all out,” Dibbern said amid the debate over ethanol.
Politico reports that Wednesday night, Speaker Mike Johnson pushed votes on foreign intelligence and budget measures as the House scrapped votes on the farm bill and E15.
Ethanol supporters like Growth Energy called it an “absurd” move, one that throws farmers under the bus.
With the provision to give retailers the choice of offering higher ethanol blends stripped out of the measure, the Farm Bill did pass the House. This is a a developing story.
