The House of Representatives on Friday approved H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 - more commonly known as the Farm Bill - by a 231-191 margin. Among its many provisions, the legislation reauthorizes the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Bioenergy Program and the Biodiesel Education Program.

Passage of the bill in the full House was not without controversy. The legislation was modified before floor consideration to include a controversial change in international tax law that increased federal revenue to offset spending beyond what was initially allocated for the Farm Bill. This provision and other policy changes in the measure prompted a veto threat from the Administration.

The Farm Bill contained $1.4 billion in mandatory funding between 2008 and 2012 for the CCC Bioenergy Program. Under the program, the CCC would support production of biodiesel and other bio-based renewable fuels using domestic feedstocks. The Bioenergy Program makes payments to eligible bioenergy producers, based on any year-to-year increase in the quantity of bioenergy that they produce. Though the proposal expands the feedstocks that would qualify for the program, ethanol produced from corn starch, and co-processed renewable diesel, are excluded from participating in the program.

The measure also provides $2 million in annual funding for the Biodiesel Education Program, which doubled funding for the program. The Senate is expected to begin consideration of its version of the Farm Bill when Congress reconvenes after the August District Work Period. As the legislative process moves forward, NBB will continue working to provide support from the CCC Bioenergy Program for producers on a per-gallon basis.