As chair of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, he champions year-round E15 sales.
champion year-round E15 sales
Occurrences
I have championed nationwide, year-round E15 ... and will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to send his legislation to President Trump’s desk, where he will sign it into law.
An Act To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes.
I look forward to joining them May 13 in advancing that important legislation.
reaffirmed his commitment to securing nationwide, year-round E15
My colleagues and I on this council will deliver a viable, durable path forward for nationwide, year-round E15.
led efforts to authorize year-round E-15
I rise today to urge my colleagues to move toward America’s energy independence and pass my Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03), co-chair of the biofuels caucus, joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues at a press conference urging Congress to lower prices at the pump for consumers and increase much-needed market access for ag producers by passing his Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.
H.R.1346 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025
Smith said the topic needs to be addressed at another time, but that there is bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. He added while he’s heading up year-round E-15 in the House, Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer is leading the way in the Senate.
Evidence
Reps. Adrian Smith and Angie Craig introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. The release says the bill would extend the Reid Vapor Pressure waiver to enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends up to 15 percent. Smith said, 'I have been fighting to eliminate unnecessary, unscientific, and misguided barriers to E15 access since 2010.'
The House Rules Committee page for H.R. 1346 shows a Smith amendment submitted to 'insert language relating to small refinery definitions, exemptions, and reallocation of unobligated gallons' and to 'insert language on E15 fuel infrastructure.' A separate Bice amendment establishes the E-15 Rural Domestic Energy Council.
Smith said he remained committed to securing nationwide, year-round E15 and described his participation in the newly formed E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council. He said the council is 'not a substitute for action' and that he and his colleagues would 'deliver a viable, durable path forward' for nationwide, year-round E15.
Smith wrote that year-round E15 'was not included in the final government funding package for Fiscal Year 2026' and said, 'we were not able to get this across the finish line at this moment.'
Congress.gov's member page lists H.R.1346 (119th Congress) sponsored by Smith as 'Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025' and shows its latest action as 'Introduced' and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
CRS explains that E15 generally cannot be sold during the summer driving season because it does not meet gasoline Reid vapor pressure requirements, and notes the EPA waiver authority that makes temporary summer sales possible.
Roll Call 164 on H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, was held on May 13, 2026 and the vote status was Passed, 218 yeas to 203 nays.
Smith said the House passage of his Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act was a historic win, but he still urged the Senate to take up the bill and send it to the President to be signed into law.
The Rules Committee page for H.R. 1346 shows committee action and floor action, including that the bill was reported and then passed the House.
During House debate, Smith urged colleagues to pass his Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and make nationwide, year-round E15 a reality.
The House Calendar lists H.R. 1346 as passed House amended on May 13, 2026, 218-203, and received in the Senate and referred to Environment and Public Works on May 14, 2026.
The H. Res. 1274 floor debate said the procedural change would allow H.R. 1346 and the farm bill to be transmitted separately to the Senate for consideration.
GovInfo lists H. Res. 1274 as engrossed in the House on May 13, 2026, providing that section 11 of H. Res. 1224 shall have no force or effect.
EPA says it extended a waiver from May 21, 2026, through June 9, 2026, for a single national gasoline pool with 9 to 15 percent ethanol content at a common RVP standard.
GovInfo identifies H.R. 1346 as the House-engrossed bill to amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure, with last action date May 13, 2026.
Assessments
Smith clearly championed nationwide, year-round E15 sales by introducing H.R. 1346, advancing it through committee, debating it on the House floor, and securing House passage on May 13, 2026. But the policy was not fully delivered because the bill still needed Senate action and had not become law in the evidence window. That makes this a strong partial delivery rather than full fulfillment.
Smith materially championed year-round E15 through federal legislative action: he sponsored/advanced H.R. 1346, advocated for it on the House floor, and secured House passage on May 13, 2026. However, the evidence shows the bill had only been received and referred in the Senate and had not become law; temporary EPA waivers helped availability but did not create the promised permanent nationwide year-round E15 sales policy. This is substantial same-term progress but not full delivery.
The promise was phrased as championing year-round E15 sales, not guaranteeing final enactment. Smith sponsored and publicly advanced H.R. 1346, continued pressing the issue in committee and public statements, and his year-round E15 legislation passed the House on May 13, 2026. Although nationwide year-round E15 was not yet enacted because Senate and presidential action were still needed, the candidate-specific promise to champion the policy was fulfilled during the same federal term.
The promise was to champion year-round E15 sales. Smith made concrete efforts, including introducing the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, supporting related committee amendments, and continuing public advocacy. However, the promised policy outcome was not delivered: the core bill remained introduced rather than enacted, CRS still described the federal year-round E15 issue as unresolved, and Smith himself said the provision was not included in the FY2026 funding package and that they were not able to get it across the finish line. Because there was a serious legislative attempt but the promised result was not achieved, the correct outcome is never with an effort badge.