WASHINGTON - Yesterday the House Science, Space and Technology Committee approved a bill (H.R. 3199) that would require studying the effects of an ethanol blend ?" E15 ?" on commercial vehicles and marine engines.

The bill would require the EPA to coordinate with the National Academy of Sciences to identify upgrades needed for any engines to adapt to E15. Congressional Quarterly reports that EPA will soon raise the ethanol blend limit from 10% to 15% and an Energy Department finding determined that E15 is safe for engines.

The bill??s sponsor, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), has been critical of the Energy Department??s findings. "We cannot responsibly allow the EPA to approve mid-level ethanol blends despite serious concerns about safety, fuel efficiency and engine damage," he said. "My bill puts science over politics."

Committee Chairman Ralph Hall (R-TX) said the legislation "would prevent damage to the vehicles and engines owned by hundreds of millions of Americans."

On Tuesday, Democrats on the committee said the legislation attacked the EPA??s credibility and would significantly delay the shift to more ethanol use in motor fuels.

Prior to approving the bill, the committee adopted by voice vote a substitute amendment offered by Sensenbrenner that would require EPA to report to Congress its views regarding the National Academy of Science findings before implementing the E15 change.

The committee also rejected an amendment to Sensenbrenner??s substitute amendment offered by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) that would allow EPA to implement the ethanol blend without the National Academy of Sciences study.