SHENKER RUSSO & CLARK LLP for NEW ENGLAND FUEL INSTITUTE

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Supported full federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Contacted: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Communicated general support for comprehensive tax reform. Supported changes during the conference committee for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R.1) that would include income from pass-throughs structured under a trust or estate for the purpose of applying the discounted tax rate under Section 11011. Advocated for the retroactive extension of the biodiesel blenders' tax credit. Discussed concerns with the proposed change to a producers-only tax credit for biodiesel (H.R.2383 and S.944). Supported legislation to extend and phased-out the blenders tax credit for biodiesel (H.R.3264) and the simple two-year extension (S.2256, Sec.307).

Contacted: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 3264 (115th), H.R. 1 (115th), S. 944 (115th), H.R. 2383 (115th), S. 2256 (115th)

Fuel/Gas/Oil FUE

Communicated general support for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as it relates to biodiesel, renewable diesel and advanced biofuels; and other policies that provide an incentive to produce, store, distribute and use biodiesel and other advanced biofuels in the heating oil market. Voiced concern over the possible use of waiver authority to reduce to renewable volume obligations for biomass-based diesel in 2018 and 2019 under the Renewable Fuels Standard, as proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency under a Notice of Data Availability issued on September 26, 2017 (EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0091, FRL-9968-70-OAR - Fed.Reg.2017-21128, Oct. 4, 2017).

Contacted: SENATE; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Transportation TRA

Expressed general concerns regarding the affects that FMCSA regulations can have on the ability to hire and retain qualified commercial vehicle drivers.

Contacted: Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration