Tom Tiffany failed Wisconsin farmers and failed to include year-round E15 in a federal funding package. In January 2026, Tiffany voted for a federal spending package that created an E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council in lieu of meaningful legislation to enact year-round E15. The National Corn Growers Association called the decision “weak and offensive” and warned it would neglect 500,000 American corn farmers. The biofuel trade group Growth Energy noted that failure to pass year-round E15 would “lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in 40 years.” The Renewable Fuels Association emphasized the critical need of year-round E15 to support hard-hit farmers and lower gas prices.
January 2026: Tiffany Voted For The $1.8 Trillion FY 2026 Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, And Transportation-HUD Appropriations. In January 2026, Tiffany voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill, as amended, that would provide about $1.18 trillion in overall funding for Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD divisions. The Defense portion of the bill would provide approximately $839.2 billion for the Department of Defense, including $13.4 billion for the so-called ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system. The Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies division of the package would provide roughly $221 billion in discretionary spending, including about $13.5 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Labor and $116.5 billion for HHS. The package also would provide $79 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education and $12.3 billion for the Social Security Administration operating budget. The Transportation, House and Urban Development and Related Agencies portion of the package would provide about $102.9 billion in discretionary funding, including $25.1 billion for the Transportation Department. $77.3 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It also would extend certain health care programs and renew lapsed trade preferences for Haiti and sub-Saharan African nations.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 341 to 88. [House Vote 45, 1/22/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/22/26; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7148; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 375]
January 2026: Tiffany Effectively Voted To Establish An E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council. In January 2026, Tiffany voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the rule that “…would deem as adopted a resolution (H Res 375), as amended by a substitute amendment, that would establish a House E-15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, comprised of members appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to develop legislation dealing with E15, or gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol content; biofuels mandates under the Renewable Fuel Standard; refinery capacity; regulatory burdens facing the industry and more.” The vote was on the rule. The House agreed to the rule by a vote of 214 to 213. [House Vote 41, 1/22/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/22/26; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1014; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 375]
National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower Said They Were “Furious” And Called The Decision To Create A Council “Weak And Offensive,” Highlighting How The Council Was A “Process-Ridden Task Force That Kicks The Can Down The Road Once Again” And Neglected 500,000 American Corn Farmers. According to the Wisconsin State Farmer, “Last week the House was expected to advance a funding bill that omits language allowing consumers across the country to access fuels with a 15% corn ethanol blend, often referred to as E15. Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Jed Bower blasted lawmakers, saying 'corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted. ‘Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15. We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again.’ Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.’” [Wisconsin State Farmer, 1/23/26]
Biofuel Trade Group Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor Called The Vote A “Disgrace” And Noted That Failure To Pass Year-Round E15 Would “Lead To Farmers Missing Out On A Critical Market During The Worst Farm Crisis In 40 Years.” According to Western Ag Network, “Growth Energy called the council, a ‘disgrace,’ saying it was meant to create another bill that would help the petroleum industry instead of agriculture. ‘Congress picked foreign refiners over American farmers and drivers today. What a travesty,’ said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy. ‘E15 delivers cost savings for consumers and generates long-term demand for American agriculture. These have been the facts during the 12-year-long debate over the simple act of allowing consumers the choice to buy a better value fuel year-round. Failure to act will now lead to farmers missing out on a critical market during the worst farm crisis in 40 years.’” [Western Ag Network, 1/23/26]
Renewable Fuels Association President Geoff Cooper Slammed The U.S. House For Letting Year-Round E15 “Slip Away” And Argued That The Federal Funding Package Was “Undoubtedly Congress’ Best Opportunity To Open A Critical New Market For Hard-Hit Farmers And Deliver Lower Gas Prices.” According to Western Ag Network, “Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, said the E15 bill was already a compromise between farmers, refiners, fuel retailers and others. Cooper said a small group of midsized refiners were able to influence lawmakers to block the E15 fix. ‘The current appropriations process was undoubtedly Congress' best opportunity to open a critical new market for hard-hit farmers and deliver lower gas prices to American families,’ Cooper said. ‘It is unfathomable to us that just a handful of midsized oil refiners, including foreign-owned companies, were apparently able to blow the whole thing up.’” [Western Ag Network, 1/23/26]