The biofuels industry is pushing for more clarity and certainty for assistance as the phase four coronavirus stimulus package negotiations continue. American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings says the opening bid from Senators last week was underwhelming. “On one hand, we’re certainly grateful the legislation contains language that could be interpreted by the USDA to include the biofuels sector in future economic relief payments, but what we were hoping for and what we continue to urge is for Congress to come together on more concrete language to direct aid to biofuels.” Jennings says the two options being proposed for biofuels aid by House and Senate agricultural leaders are clear and direct. Despite the negotiation challenges, he remains hopeful language will be included. “Frankly, I think this is a matter of political will. Is Congress willing to do the right thing by the biofuels sector or will they just leave it up to the USDA? The problem with leaving it up to the USDA is that in the third package, the USDA declined to provide assistance to biofuels. We don’t want to go through that again.”
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