This Week In Washington

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is a federal program mandating oil refiners to blend a certain amount of renewable fuels, such as corn ethanol, into the nation's fuel supply every year.

This is one of the most egregious examples of the government picking winners and losers. Washington has deemed the workers at Pennsylvania's oil refineries the losers.

While sales of gasoline with up to 10% ethanol (E10) are available year-round, there is a ban on sales of fuel with 15% ethanol (E15) in the summer months, due to the smog it produces. Recently, the Trump administration directed the Environmental Protection Agency to craft a rule allowing for the year-round sale of E15 gasoline.

Authorizing the expanded sale of E15 gasoline without meaningful reforms for the U.S. refining sector is a missed opportunity that only benefits ethanol producers and their allies. This legally-dubious proposal does not address the high compliance costs associated with the government's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which threatens thousands of jobs at Philadelphia Energy Solutions and Monroe Energy.

I continue to believe that changes to the RFS should improve conditions for both agriculture and the refining industry. This week's action is not only imbalanced, it risks worsening air quality and hurting consumers.

Promoting opportunities for youth civic engagement paves the way for students to become active participants in our republic.

In an effort to help high school students understand the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government, staff in my Allentown office, in conjunction with Lebanon Valley College, hosted the Youth Civic Engagement Symposium.

More than 100 Lebanon County students from six schools heard from speakers from all levels of government, including former Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Corbett.

I have no doubt that this year's Youth Civic Engagement Symposium provided students with an appreciation of our civic institutions. I thank all those who helped organize the event.

Read more about this terrific event in the Lebanon Daily News.

On July 6, the administration began imposing a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion worth of goods from China. As a result, Pennsylvania manufacturers are shouldering a new 25 percent tax burden on certain component parts.

Companies may seek an exclusion from these taxes if demand for a necessary item cannot be met by a domestic firm.

In an effort to assist Pennsylvania businesses affected by these tariffs, I sent a series of letters to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer urging a full and fair review of all exclusion petitions by Pennsylvania companies.

Section 301 tariffs are direct taxes on American consumers and producers. They reduce American purchasing power, curtail freedom, impede job creation, and limit production. Approving these exemptions will help Pennsylvania employers remain competitive globally.

I hope these exclusion petitions are expeditiously reviewed.