Biofuels Caucus Bill to Update EPA Greenhouse Gas Modeling

Washington, D.C. – Biofuels Caucus Co-chairs Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) Adrian Smith (R-NE), Angie Craig (D-MN), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced the Adopt Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its greenhouse gas modeling for renewable fuels.

The Adopt GREET Act would require the EPA to adopt the Argonne National Lab’s GREET Model for renewable fuels. EPA would then be required to update its modeling every five years or report to Congress to affirm its modeling is current or otherwise explain why no updates were made.

“The EPA’s current greenhouse gas modeling is limiting adoption of homegrown renewable fuels,” said Rep. Johnson. “In contrast, the GREET model takes into account the full lifecycle of renewable fuels – from a farmer’s field to fuel pumps – and gives consumers a more accurate picture of the benefits biofuels offer. We should be using the best science available and that’s exactly what this bill does.”

“Agencies must use up-to-date, scientifically accurate modeling to ensure we keep pace with the latest technologies and innovations,” said Rep. Smith. “It is crucial EPA adopts the GREET Model to fully reflect the positive impact of biofuels on emissions reductions. Not only does the model reinforce the positive contributions of American farmers and ranchers, it also makes agriculture products and byproducts more competitive exports. As co-chair of the Biofuels Caucus, I thank Reps. Johnson, Pocan, and Craig, as well as our colleagues in the Senate, for their partnership in reinforcing the competitiveness and sustainability of American energy.”

“Homegrown biofuels are tools we have at our fingertips right now to help address climate change – and it’s critically important that the EPA’s data accurately reflects that,” said Rep. Craig. I’m proud to be working across the aisle to pass this bill and make sure the true benefit that homegrown biofuels bring to our environment, economy and ag communities is recognized.”

“This bipartisan bill will help our country harness the power of innovation and science to drive cleaner, more efficient transportation solutions,” said Rep. Pocan. “This commonsense legislation directs the EPA to use the latest tool already used by other federal agencies – the GREET model – to fully capture the impact that biofuels have in making our transportation choices more eco-friendly. Thank you to Reps. Johnson, Smith and Craig for joining me in introducing this vital piece of legislation.”

“We appreciate Reps. Johnson, Smith, Craig and Pocan for leading the reintroduction of legislation, which will ensure the global gold-standard modeling tool for lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions will be used to properly value corn ethanol’s carbon footprint when establishing future regulations impacting biofuels. Enactment of this bipartisan bill will ensure ethanol plays a significant role in decarbonizing the transportation sector,” said Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol.

“This legislation would go a long way to ensure that renewable fuel regulations are based on sound science and current data, not obsolete information and speculative theories. The Argonne National Laboratory GREET model is recognized around the world as the gold standard for analyzing the lifecycle GHG impacts of renewable fuels like ethanol, regularly updated to reflect efficiency improvements and technological advancements in the fuel production process. We thank Representatives Dusty Johnson, Adrian Smith, Angie Craig and Mark Pocan for your efforts to require scientific integrity and accuracy in federal government regulatory actions on renewable fuels,” said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association.

“The GREET Model isn’t just the most accurate, complete tool for lifecycle analysis; it’s also a critical part of securing a successful future for America’s biofuels producers and the rural communities they support. The Adopt GREET Act is a commonsense piece of legislation that would give producers greater certainty and allow for homegrown bioethanol to play an even bigger role in decarbonizing the transportation section. We applaud the introduction of this bill in the House by Representatives Johnson, Smith, Craig, and Pocan, and hope to see it quickly approved and signed into law,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy.

The Adopt GREET Act is cosponsored by Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Ron Estes (R-KS), Mark Alford (R-MO), Mike Bost (R-IL), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), on Bacon (R-NE), and Jake LaTurner (R-KS).

The Adopt GREET Act is supported by the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, American Coalition for Ethanol, National Corn Growers Association, South Dakota Corn Growers Association, POET, Gevo, and the National Oilseed Processors Association.

View full bill text here.

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Thune, Scott, Barrasso, Boozman Urge the Biden Administration to Abandon Unrealistic, Costly Energy Efficiency Standards

 “We urge you to change course, as adoption of these standards would impose significant costs on American households, particularly low- and moderate-income families, and put undue pressure on an already constrained housing supply.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.); Tim Scott (R-S.C.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; today led more than 20 of their colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to abandon their proposal that would require new single and multifamily homes that are insured or guaranteed by the agencies to be subject to unrealistic and overly burdensome energy efficiency standards. The proposal would reduce the supply of new housing, increase costs on residential contractors, and significantly impact low-income households.

“Over the last few years, the Biden administration has demonstrated a reckless commitment to forcing its unrealistic environmental agenda onto various aspects of the economy via its push toward electrification, regulating household appliances, and the stifling of conventional American energy production,” wrote the senators. “So it is not at all surprising that the administration is now forcing its agenda onto families purchasing or renting a home, all while admitting that ‘lower-income households . . . may be challenged in their ability to address first costs.’ To that end, we request that you abandon this effort and conduct an honest evaluation as to how adoption of the revised international energy conservation code (IECC) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards would increase costs and give special attention to the affect adoption would have on lower-income families.”

In addition to Thune, Scott, Barrasso, and Boozman, the letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Full letter below:

Dear Secretary Fudge and Secretary Vilsack:

We write to raise significant concerns with your proposed adoption of revised energy standards for newly constructed and rehabilitated homes insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). We urge you to change course, as adoption of these standards would impose significant costs on American households, particularly low and moderate-income families, and put undue pressure on an already constrained housing supply.

As you know, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-140) requires HUD and USDA to adopt revised energy standards if, after the U.S. Department of Energy determines that the revised standards would improve energy efficiency, the agencies “make a determination that the revised codes do not negatively affect the availability or affordability” of newly constructed or rehabilitated homes insured or guaranteed by HUD or USDA. Though you preliminarily determined that revised energy standards would not adversely impact the availability or affordability of housing, we disagree as evidence exists to the contrary.

HUD and USDA incorrectly conclude that the availability or affordability of housing will not be negatively impacted by adoption of the revised standards. The agencies, for example, ignore costs that will be placed on single-family borrowers by relying on a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory study to estimate savings that optimistically presume a mortgage interest rate of three percent, disregarding the fact that mortgage rates are currently more than double this estimate. The agencies also admit that “new construction for federal housing administration borrowers would decline” if revised standards are adopted and naively declare that “borrowers could adapt to the supply constraints by seeking a conventional loan or by purchasing an existing home with similar qualities.” Moreover, the agencies cite research finding energy efficiency programs have a lower net benefit for low-income households than expected, and unequivocally conclude that “energy efficiency requires an additional cost and one that lower-income households may not have the disposable income to accommodate.”

It is no secret that the cost of purchasing and renting a home has surged over the last few years, and the problems are more pronounced for lower-income families, making adoption of the revised IECC and ASHRAE standards all the more ill-timed. In recent years, construction of smaller and typically less-expensive, single-family homes represents a small fraction of all new, single-family construction. On the multifamily front, though construction has increased, rental units are increasingly becoming unaffordable for lower-income households partially because permitting activity is overwhelmingly concentrated in large metro areas where the bulk of new construction has been driven by properties with 20 or more units, presumably being built in higher-cost urban centers. Moreover, the supply of lower-cost rentals is consistently declining.

Over the last few years, the Biden administration has demonstrated a reckless commitment to forcing its unrealistic environmental agenda onto various aspects of the economy via its push toward electrification, regulating household appliances, and the stifling of conventional American energy production. So it is not at all surprising that the administration is now forcing its agenda onto families purchasing or renting a home, all while admitting that “lower-income households . . . may be challenged in their ability to address first costs.”

To that end, we request that you abandon this effort and conduct an honest evaluation as to how adoption of the revised IECC and ASHRAE standards would increase costs and give special attention to the affect adoption would have on lower-income families.

Sincerely,

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Gov. Noem and Colleagues Send Letter Opposing President Biden’s Long-Term Care Regulations

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and 14 of her fellow Republican governors sent a letter to President Biden opposing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed new regulations for long-term care facilities. The governors called on President Biden to reconsider this unfunded mandate and engage in conversation on how to best serve residents of long-term care facilities. You can read the letter here.

“CMS proposed new regulations for long-term care facilities that impose unnecessary, one-size-fits-all staff requirements,” wrote Governor Noem and her colleagues. “If adopted, CMS’s proposed regulations will force many long-term care facilities in our communities to close, eroding access to healthcare for some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

The proposed regulations put additional burdens on an industry that is already experiencing a nationwide workforce shortage. They would also impose significant industry costs that would erode access to care.

“Republican governors are pulling multiple levers to ensure these facilities have the staff they need to care for their vulnerable residents,” continued Governor Noem and the other governors. “In contrast, your proposed rule treats this complex, deep-rooted problem as something to be solved with a simple wave of the bureaucratic wand.”

Governor Noem was joined by the following Republican governors in issuing the statement:

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

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The mail was just dropped off on my doorstep, and I got one of the best pieces of campaign swag I think I’ve ever seen – the Mike Rohl for Senate Hoodie:

(Pardon my shedding retriever’s hair, but..) Working from my desk in “the corner of cold” in my house, this item from the District 1 State Senator is just what I was looking for today!

And this thing is great – Love the laced hoodie.

Thank you very much Senator Rohl, and my most enthusiastic thumbs up for the campaign swag.

We’re back in Washington for another week of work in the United States Senate. Now that we’ve got a Speaker of the House, both the House and the Senate are in a lot better position to address some of the big issues that are facing America right now. We still have to pass a series of appropriation bills to keep the government open and funded past the November 17 deadline set by the continuing resolution. We’re currently making amendments to these appropriation bills on the Senate floor, and the House is doing the same on their side. As part of this, we also need to address aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as securing our southern border as a prerequisite. Because we have divided government – a Republican majority in the House, a Democrat majority in the Senate and a Democrat President – we have to work together in a bipartisan way to complete our appropriations process. I recognize that there’s a lot to get done here, and I’m ready to continue working to finish the job. Here’s my Weekly Round[s] Up:

South Dakotans I visited with: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District’s Leadership Development Class.

Meetings this past week: Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State and current Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; the Software and Information Industry Association; David Sampson, President and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association; National Association of Convenience Stores; Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States; Todd McCracken, President and CEO of the National Small Business Association; Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Google; Essa Kayd, Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Father Chris Kellerman, Director of Government Relations for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States; Syracuse University’s AI Policy Symposium; Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense; Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor and Shalanda Young, Director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget.

I spoke at the Housing Assistance Council’s National Rural Housing Conference in a Fireside Chat with Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.). As members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Senator Smith and I have introduced legislation to improve rural housing programs, cut red tape and increase the accessibility of affordable housing in our state. Together, we have met with stakeholders and visited with constituents about the hurdles they are facing regarding homeownership. Our bill, the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, is the direct result of these visits and meetings. During this Fireside Chat, we discussed this important bill that would work to make homeownership a reality for more South Dakotans.

As you may remember, as a member of the bipartisan AI working group, I hosted the first AI Insight Forum last month with leaders from the tech industry, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta (Facebook) CEO Mark Zuckerberg and more. This past week, we hosted another forum with leaders from AI companies and venture capital groups, where we focused on opportunities for innovation and domestic growth within the industry.

It’s critical that the United States stays at the forefront of artificial intelligence development. The opportunity to utilize AI for innovations in the health care industry, including research on deadly diseases like cancer, will not only improve but extend the lives of Americans. These forums continue to be informative and helpful as the future of AI regulation and legislation begins to take shape.

Headline of the week: Sen. Rounds expresses support for Israel as Congress weighs aid options – Rapid City Journal

Votes taken: 10 – A few of these were on nominations, and a few of them were on amendments to our “minibus” appropriation bills. As we look to the November 17 deadline set by last month’s continuing resolution, we continue to work on getting these appropriation bills passed through the Senate.

Hearings: I attended one hearing in the Select Committee on Intelligence. Wish I could tell you more, but as usual, our hearing this week was closed.

Classified briefings: I had one classified briefing related to my work on the Select Committee on Intelligence.

My staff in South Dakota visited: Aberdeen, Brookings, Carthage, Custer, Edgemont, Hill City, Hot Springs, Keystone, Lead, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Watertown.

Steps taken this past week: 58,449 steps or 29.01 miles

Photo of the Week:

Send South Dakota your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free!

Just when you think things are going to be static with certain legislative races, it looks like at least two Rapid City districts are going to be as competitive as they were last election.

It appears that District 32 is going to have a potential open seat in the House, as State Representative Becky Drury is said to be moving from one house to another house. In more ways than one.

I’m hearing that Representative Drury is planning a move within Rapid City as she has a new home that the Drury family are in the process of fixing up and remodeling.. except this new House is not in D32, but in District 34, where you might expect the former City Councilwoman to hang her hat, and to run for office from in 2024, leaving an open seat in D32, Rapid City’s most challenging district for Republicans.  I have no doubt they will find a qualified candidate, but that will make things interesting.

How does that affect District 34? Currently, With Mike Derby and Jess Olson in the House, Rep. Drury would make three.. except I’m also hearing that there is a possibility that State Rep. Jess Olson may take a pass on seeking re-election, winnowing the numbers back down to two.

Stay tuned… because it’s barely over 60 days until petitions can be taken out!

Rounds, Working Group to Host AI Discussion on Workforce
Forum to Feature DSU President José-Marie Griffiths 

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, November 1, U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) working group will host a discussion focused on AI in the workforce. The forum will feature academic and industry experts, including Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University. The group will discuss the intersection of AI and the workforce and will aim to explore how AI will alter the way that Americans work. In addition to Rounds, the AI working group is comprised of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

“AI is leading to incredible advancements in our daily lives, including the way we work,” said Rounds. “From medicine and manufacturing to entertainment and hospitality, workers in all industries will feel the impacts of AI. I look forward to hearing from Dr. Griffiths and other top experts as we discuss the development of AI in the workforce.”

In addition to Griffiths, featured speakers include: 

• Allyson Knox, Microsoft – Senior Director of Education Policy and Programs
• Ameenah Salaam, Communication Workers of America – Secretary-Treasurer
• Anton Korinek, University of Virginia – Professor
• Arnab Chakraborty, Accenture – Senior Managing Director of Data and AI and Global Responsible AI Lead
• Austin Keyser, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Assistant to the International President
• Bonnie Castillo, National Nurses United – Executive Director
• Chris Hyams, Indeed – Chairman and CEO
• Daron Acemoglu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Professor
• Michael Fraccaro, Mastercard – Chief People Officer
• Michael Strain, American Enterprise Institute – Director of Economic Policy Studies
• Patrick Gaspard, Center for American Progress – President and CEO
• Paul Schwalb, UNITE HERE – Secretary-Treasurer of DC Local 25
• Rachel Lyons, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) – Legislative Director
• Rob Atkinson, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation – Founder and President

In May 2023, the working group was formed to pursue the opportunities and tackle the threats presented by AI. In order to provide additional information to members of the Senate, the working group has hosted a series of briefings. These briefings have included a first-of-its-kind forum that featured top tech leaders including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates and a panel discussion comprised of academic and industry experts focusing on how AI is transforming health care.

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MEET PIERRE

The Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee will hold its second meeting of the 2023 Interim on Monday, November 6, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT). The meeting is being conducted in Room 413 of the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota. The committee is chaired by Senator Erin Tobin (R-Winner) with vice chair Representative Roger DeGroot (R-Brookings). Members will hear from representatives of state agencies, medical marijuana establishments, health care providers, and the industry regarding the operational status of the South Dakota medical marijuana program. Public testimony will also be taken. The full agenda is available online.

In addition to Senator Tobin and Representative DeGroot, committee members include Senator Jim Mehlhaff (R-Pierre); Representative Curt Massie (R-Rapid City); and non-legislators Francine Arneson, Brian Doherty, Katie Kassin, Brian Mueller, Kristi Palmer, Jon Thum, and Rachel Waddell.

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