South Bend Times

Rep. Rudy Yakym, along with more than 45 members of Congress from both the Senate and House, has sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the agency to finalize a rule concerning imported Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and to maintain proposed levels for biomass-based diesel volumes.

The bipartisan letter argues that these actions would help strengthen American energy security and support domestic farmers and renewable fuel producers. "At a time when many farmers are struggling to break even, all federal biofuels policies should prioritize domestic agriculture and biofuel production, not foreign fuels made from foreign feedstocks. Additionally, while farmers face the uncertainty of foreign market demand, the Import RIN reduction would provide essential support for the farm economy so farmers could sell more products domestically," the members wrote.

Earlier this year, the EPA proposed record biomass-based diesel volumes in its Set 2 proposal and suggested reducing RINs by 50% for imported renewable fuels or those produced from foreign feedstocks. According to the lawmakers' letter: "The Import RIN reduction also aligns with congressional intent under the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, which prioritizes domestic feedstocks. Aligning EPA’s policy with this standard helps level the playing field for domestic feedstock and biofuel producers with imported feedstocks, such as Brazilian tallow and so called ‘used cooking oil’ from China, which would otherwise directly undercut U.S. energy, agriculture and manufacturing."

EPA analysis indicates that implementing this proposal could lead to job creation and economic growth in sectors like farming, transportation, and manufacturing—especially in rural areas.

Senator Chuck Grassley led the initiative. Other senators who signed include Joni Ernst, Amy Klobuchar, Roger Marshall, Elissa Slotkin, Deb Fischer, Todd Young, Tina Smith, Dick Durbin, Pete Ricketts, Michael Rounds, Jerry Moran and Tammy Baldwin. In addition to Rep. Yakym—who has represented Indiana's 2nd District since 2022—other House signatories included Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, Randy Feenstra and several others.

Organizations supporting the letter are the American Soybean Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Oilseed Processors Association and National Sorghum Producers.

Rep. Yakym was born in 1984 in Granger and graduated from Indiana University South Bend with an associate degree in 2009 and a bachelor’s degree in 2011.