The recent COVID 19 relief bill passed by Congress does contain funding that could be helpful for ethanol producers who’ve been damaged by the pandemic. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says while the authority is there for that funding it’s up to the Agriculture Secretary to move ahead with a plan to dispense it.

He says while the ethanol funding is there, the Ag Secretary while having the authority to dispense it isn’t required to do that.

Grassley says this recent COVID relief package is a better one because it’s more targeted.

Grassley says he intends to lobby the new Ag Secretary to provide that COVID relief money to ethanol plants whenever he’s confirmed which may not happen until after January 20.