Every month, when Iowa families look over their finances and put together a budget, the price of gas is always an unpredictable factor in spending decisions. While people in urban centers have access to other transportation options, in rural Iowa, we drive — everywhere. Going to work, driving to church, seeing friends in other communities, and taking our kids to school and practice all require a car — and in the wintertime, an electric vehicle just won’t cut it.

With inflation on the rise and the average price of gas projected to top $4 this summer, we need to find ways to lower gas prices for our families. Fortunately, we have a low-cost fuel option that is grown and produced right here in Iowa. In fact, during the summertime, we’re literally surrounded by it while driving on local roads and on the highway.

Thanks to our hard working farmers, Iowa’s 4th Congressional District leads the nation in corn production and, therefore, ethanol production, too. Our ethanol is then blended with oil to make E-15, which is cheaper and cleaner than standard gasoline.

In 2023, 178 million gallons of E-15 were sold in Iowa, which represents a 47% increase from 2022 and a state record in E-15 consumption. In addition to gains at the state level, American drivers nationwide have registered 100 billion miles on the road using E-15. By cutting red tape where appropriate, passing common sense legislation, and sharing the benefits of E-15 across the country, we can lower fuel costs for families not only in the Midwest, but in all fifty states.

Regrettably, a major barrier facing our farmers, ethanol producers, and families is the lack of year-round access to E-15. Currently, E-15 cannot be sold in the summer due to outdated government regulations.

But, following years of persistent advocacy and action, the Biden administration finally approved the year-round sale of E-15 in Iowa and seven other states across the Midwest. However, this approval will not occur until 2025 — more than a year from today — keeping gas prices unnecessarily high while Iowa families still encounter sticker shock at the gas pump and the grocery store largely due to President Biden’s wasteful spending policies.

That’s why I’ve joined my colleagues in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve year-round sales of E-15 beginning this year. Year-round access to E-15 is a win for Iowa. Our families benefit from lower prices at the pump, our farmers receive more demand for their corn, and our ethanol producers experience significant financial gains. There is no reason for the EPA to delay approval for another year. The longer we delay full implementation of year-round E-15, the longer our families, farmers, and ethanol producers will be prevented from experiencing the benefits.

I’m also working hard to pass the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. This is must-pass legislation for our economy and an important platform from which to make E-15 available at gas stations nationwide 365 days a year — permanently. Americans everywhere deserve the choice to use E-15 year-round, and federal regulation should not hinder access to cheaper, homegrown biofuels.

Serving on both the House Agriculture Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, I am the strongest voice for Iowa agriculture and biofuels in Congress. I am not afraid to stand up for our rural values and advocate for our state’s economic engine. I will continue to work towards the full approval of year-round access to E-15 nationwide so that we can use homegrown fuel to fill up our cars and make America energy dominant.

We are government together, and your thoughts and opinions matter to me. Please contact my office at Feenstra.House.Gov or by phone at 202-225-4426 if I can ever be of assistance. I am proud to represent our families, farmers, main street businesses, and rural communities in Congress.

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Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, represents Iowa’s Fourth District in the U.S. House.