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Senators call on USDA to get aid to biofuels producers “as soon as possible”

Two U.S. Senators are urging the Biden administration to provide targeted relief to biofuels producers as quickly as possible.

Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley says he and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar have sent a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack encouraging USDA to assist ethanol and biodiesel plants while the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program is under review.

“It should be noted that money from the December virus relief bill, which totaled $13 billion, has not yet been spent.”

During his weekly call with ag reporters Monday, Grassley pointed out he and other lawmakers were successful in giving USDA discretionary authority late last year.

“We’re now a full week into March and Secretary Vilsack has been in office for two weeks (so) the money that Congress has already provided should be distributed to producers for the virus disruptions as soon as possible.”

The omnibus appropriations and coronavirus relief package that passed in December explicitly identifies renewable fuel producers as entities eligible to receive COVID-19 emergency aid unlike the CARES Act.

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