When the U.S. House voted this week in support of a bill to allow for nationwide, year-round E15 gasoline sales, it resulted in a split vote by Oklahoma’s House members.
Reps. Frank Lucas and Stephanie Bice voted in support of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025. It was opposed by Reps. Josh Brecheen, Tom Cole and Kevin Hern.
The vote was 218-203, with 122 Republicans, 95 Democrats and 1 independent voting in favor, and 90 Republicans and 113 Democrats opposing the bill. House Republican leadership also split on the topic as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) voted against the bill while House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) voted for the bill. The legislation moves to the U.S. Senate where supporters are urging swift action to finalize the policy.
E15 is considered a fuel blend with 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. Smog concerns had restricted its sales during parts of the year. Its sale has been restricted during the summer drive season of June 1 through September 15 because it does not meet Reid vapor pressure (RVP) requirements which limit fuel volatility under the Clean Air Act.
Earlier in the year, Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency said the agreed-upon date of April 28 to make the fuel available in eight states would move ahead as planned. Governors and leaders of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin had urged approval last year of waivers to sell the fuel all year long rather than just high-demand summer months.
The codification of the current bill has the support of corn-producing states including Iowa where Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statement on social media.
“E15 just passed the House!
“API joined a broad coalition of energy producers, small refiners, biofuel stakeholders, agriculture groups, fuel retailers, and equipment manufacturers in urging lawmakers to advance this legislation, highlighting how a holistic and balanced approach to E15 improves consumer choice and market certainty while supporting reliable, affordable fuel supply.
The legislation expands choice at the pump by enabling nationwide, year-round access to E15 and eliminating seasonal barriers and a patchwork of state requirements. It allows—but does not mandate—retailers to offer E15, while preserving E10 availability for consumers.
While corn-state leaders applauded the vote, not all farm groups did. Farm Progress reported the American Soybean Association stated it “cannot support” the legislation and as a result, a split exists with corn farmers who would benefit from an expanded biofuels market.
The group came out against the bill prior to Wednesday’s vote in the House as the Soybean Association pointed to research by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, which found that small gains in corn prices from year-round, nationwide E15 gasoline are more than offset by decreases in soybean prices.