2022: Schweikert Voted Against Providing $700 Million In Supplemental FY 2023 Funds To The Agriculture Department For Activities To Lower Food And Fuel Costs. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which would "provide $700 million in supplemental fiscal 2023 appropriations and authorize or require various Agriculture Department activities to reduce food production costs; support biofuel infrastructure upgrades to reduce fuel costs; expand livestock and poultry processing capacities; and address supply chain resilience in the food and agriculture sectors." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 221-204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 277, 6/16/22; Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7606]
$200 Million Would Be Reserved For Grants To Transportation Fueling And Distribution Facilities, Grants To Install Or Upgrade Fuel Infrastructure For Environmentally Safe Fuel With Ethanol Levels Over 10% Or Biodiesel Blends Over 5%, And Grants To Build And Improve Systems To Blend Biodiesel And Carry Ethanol And Biodiesel. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Within supplemental appropriations, it would provide $200 million for grants to transportation fueling and distribution facilities, fuel terminal operations and heating oil distribution facilities to install or upgrade fuel infrastructure to ensure the environmentally safe availability of fuel containing ethanol blends at levels greater than 10 percent or biodiesel blends at levels greater than five percent, or to build and retrofit existing systems to blend biodiesel and carry ethanol and biodiesel." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22]
The Bill Would Authorize The Environmental Protection Agency To Extend A Waiver To Permit The Sale Of Gasoline Blended With Over 10% Ethanol. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would also authorize the EPA to extend a waiver to allow the sale of gasoline blended with more than 10 percent ethanol." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/16/22]