WASHINGTON – The Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), commended the panel’s thoughtful, comprehensive review of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and said that bipartisan collaboration on potential reforms will continue in earnest during the upcoming August district work period.

Upton and Waxman issued the following statement:

“We began this year with an understanding that the time had come for a review of the RFS and a belief that bipartisanship was our best path forward. We have spent the past four months conducting careful analysis, soliciting stakeholder feedback, and listening to expert testimony. The process has been a success, giving both members and the public an opportunity to better understand a policy that is both complex and far-reaching.

“We are going to use the August work period to discuss bipartisan solutions that take into account the broad range of concerns we have heard. Any reforms to the RFS will reflect our efforts to protect the interests of consumers, the environment, farmers, food and energy producers, and all of the American people. Building consensus will not be an easy task, and we are grateful for the members on both sides of the aisle who have stepped up to provide leadership on this important issue. We will continue looking to them, along with other members from both parties, both on and off the committee, to ensure the wide range of perspectives are taken into account. As we transition from reviewing the law to reforming it, our commitment to a collaborative, bipartisan process is stronger than ever.”