Quick Links to Articles for June 25, 2021

EMA Compliance Bulletin: 2021-2022 Federal Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Payment Due August 31 

Energy Marketers of America to Biden Administration: Fix the Corn Ethanol Mandate Now

EMA Joins Coalition in Letter of Support for 199A 

Conservative Climate Caucus Announced This Week

Federated Insurance is Presenting a 1-Day Risk Management Seminar at a City Near You

Secure Your Listing or Advertisement Now in EMA’s Online Buyer’s Guide

Federated Insurance: It’s Your Life

EMA Member Services Spotlight Featuring: Batteries + Bulbs through NPP

The House is scheduled to vote the week of June 28 on the INVEST in America Act (H.R.3684), legislation that would authorize $547 billion for highways and surface transportation programs for the next five years. As the legislation is considered on the House floor, members have an opportunity to amend the bill text. Currently, the legislation includes provisions that would allow electric vehicle (EV) charging at rest areas and on the Interstate right-of-way. We urge you to contact your Representative and ask them to support Rep. Rick Larsen’s amendments #70 and #71 that would remove these harmful provisions and promote EMA member interest by directing the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study to determine the effect that commercial services at rest areas would have on off-highway businesses and local communities while also allowing states to offer EV charging at park and ride facilities. Click here to write Congress in support of the Larsen Amendment. 

In advance of floor consideration, EMA worked with industry partners and Hill supporters to secure a letter, signed by 17 House members, that urges Congressional leaders to ensure that the policies and incentives put forth to develop a charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) result in a price-competitive and convenient refueling marketplace for consumers and promotes small business fuel marketers who play a critical role in the energy and fuel supply chain. View the letter here. 

Yesterday, President Biden and twenty-one bipartisan Senators announced a $1.2 trillion hard infrastructure framework, of which $579 billion will be new spending. The two-page framework includes $312 billion for transportation, including $110 billion for roads and bridges; $50 billion for public transit and $7 billion for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. The framework also includes tens of billions for broadband and water infrastructure and $20 billion for an infrastructure financing bank. The framework would pay for the spending by repurposing certain unspent COVID-relief funds; increasing IRS tax enforcement; reinstating Superfund chemical fees; using proceeds from 5G spectrum auctions; selling a certain amount of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; and accelerating public-private partnerships.

While President Biden announced the framework, he also said that he would not sign the bipartisan bill without a broader reconciliation package that included other priorities from the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. President Biden would like Congress to vote on both pieces of legislation in tandem before the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) agreed, saying that the House would not vote on the Senate’s bipartisan package without also advancing a reconciliation package. Senate Budget Committee Chair Sanders (I-VT) is preparing a reconciliation package to include President Biden's social infrastructure proposals, as well as measures on prescription drug pricing and lowering the Medicare eligibility age. 

Prospects for passage remain uncertain given the development that Democrats plan to move a bipartisan proposal through regular order and a separate partisan measure through reconciliation. There is no certainty that all 50 Senate Democrats would remain unified to advance a reconciliation package. There is also a risk that Democrats’ reconciliation push could harm the overall bipartisan agreement, as Republican Senators may be less likely to go along with the package knowing that a partisan reconciliation process looms around the corner. The Senate left DC today and is scheduled to return July 12. Over the next few weeks, we anticipate staff to further define the framework and prep legislation for consideration in mid-July at the earliest. 

The 2021 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use (HHVU) tax reporting period runs from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The HHVU tax is paid on each commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 55,000 pounds or greater that travels 5,000 miles or more per year. The HHVU applies to most petroleum cargo tank vehicles and transports. Once the HHVU tax is filed and paid, the IRS will send back to filers a stamped IRS Form 2290 Schedule 1, proof of payment within 6 weeks.

Click here to read the EMA Compliance Bulletin.

This week, EMA sent a letter to the EPA Administrator Michael Regan and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese requesting urgent action to reduce the corn ethanol mandate to 9.7 percent of projected gasoline demand to address the current E15 crisis. The Administration is under significant pressure to provide relief from labor union leaders and Senators from his home state of Delaware. The EPA is currently considering whether to keep RFS blending obligations flat, opt for a modest decrease or to delay compliance deadline for 2021 blending mandates as was done in 2019 and 2020. 

“EMA fully believes in renewable fuels and their importance in the liquid fuels market, and we are currently working with Congress to ensure that future federal grant funds be available for small business energy marketers to upgrade their underground storage tank system equipment to safely and legally sell E10 plus blends. However, if the RFS continues to go unchecked, the majority of retail sites across the country will be unable to legally sell the new product due to non-compatible underground storage tank (UST) system equipment. To point out the facts of infrastructure compatibility issues is not being anti-ethanol. To the contrary, we must ensure that ethanol continues to be sold in a safe and legal manner for it to have a promising future,” said EMA President Rob Underwood. Click here to read EMA’s letter. 

Last week, labor union leaders requested urgent action to “reduce the skyrocketing cost” of biofuel blending credits (RINs) “and preserve American union jobs.” According to union leaders, the cost for U.S. refiners to pay for RINs to meet annual blending mandates, particularly ethanol credits, siphons off money for refinery upgrade projects that typically employ thousands of union workers. RIN prices hit a high of $2.00 last week. Democratic senators Chris Coons and Tom Carper of Delaware met with EPA Administrator Michael Regan to discuss broad relief for refiners. The senators proposed options including a nationwide general waiver exempting the refining industry from specific obligations, lowering annual blending mandates, and creating a price cap on RINs credits.  

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court this morning ruled in favor of small refiners seeking exemptions from RFS blending requirements. The 6-3 decision overturns an earlier finding by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said EPA could only extend existing waivers from the RFS. Click here for the story.

This week EMA joined other associations in a letter of opposition of any reduction of the 20-percent deduction for qualified business income under Section 199A of the Tax Code, including phasing out the deduction above certain income thresholds. 

The letter to the Majority and Ranking members of the Senate and House tax committees outlines that without the 199A deduction, that individually- and family-owned Main Street businesses would pay significantly higher taxes, putting them at a competitive disadvantage and accelerating the economic consolidation taking place in our economy. 

EMA opposes proposals to limit or repeal the deduction because it would hurt Main Street businesses and result in fewer jobs, lower wages, and less economic growth in thousands of communities across the country. Such changes would amount to a direct tax hike on America’s Main Street employers, a key reason why the tax plan released by the White House in March left the deduction fully intact.

On Wednesday, Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) announced the creation of the Conservative Climate Caucus, designed to educate House Republicans on climate policies and legislation consistent with conservative values in order to fight against radical progressive climate proposals that would hurt our economy, American workers, and national security.

Curtis and the fifty other members of the caucus know that practical and exportable answers can be found in innovation embraced by the free market, because Americans and the rest of the world want access to cheaper, reliable, and cleaner energy. Further, with innovative technologies, fossil fuels can and should be a major part of the global solution. Finally, caucus members emphasize that reducing emissions is the goal, not reducing energy choices. For the full membership list, go to Conservative Climate Caucus.

You are invited to attend an exclusive, complimentary Risk Management Academy session hosted by Federated Mutual Insurance Company. A short video about this session is meant to help you learn more about:

1. Losses impacting our industry,

2. Connect with industry peers facing similar challenges, and

3. Apply risk management best practices that make a difference at your business.

Owners, Human Resources Managers, and Designated Risk Managers are encouraged to attend.

Click here to register for any of these sessions on this flyer. If you have questions regarding the event or the registration process, please feel free to contact Federated at 507-455-5315 oremail.

One (1) Registration per Company. Space is limited, so please register today! Federated is an EMA Corporate Platinum Partner.

The Energy Marketers of America (EMA) is pleased to announce that the exclusive EMA Buyers’ Guide, the premier resource of relevant products and services for energy marketers, is available on the EMA website at www.energymarketersofamerica.org.

The Energy Marketers of America (EMA) partnered with Strategic Value Media - a leading nationwide provider of print and digital media solutions for national, state and local trade and membership associations - to produce the 2021 edition of EMA’s Buyers’ Guide, the primary resource of products and services for energy marketers. EMA is proud to provide its members with this useful and easily accessible year-round resource. Please read the full press releasehere.

We encourage you to take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to highlight your products and services in the Buyers’ Guide. To learn more about advertising your products or services in the Buyers’ Guide, please email.

Can a team win the Super Bowl without their quarterback? How successful is a hockey team without their goalie? Both of these positions are vitally important to the team — just like the owner of a business. Consider how your family and business could be affected if you were sidelined from your job due to a disability caused by an illness or injury.

Please click here to read the article. 

Please always feel free to contact your Federated regional representative or EMA’s National Account Executive Jon Medo at 800.533.0472 for any additional information or risk management questions. Federated is an EMA Corporate Platinum Partner.

This article is for general information and risk prevention only and should not be considered legal or other expert advice. The recommendations herein may help reduce, but are not guaranteed to eliminate, any or all risk of loss. The information herein may be subject to, and is not a substitute for, any laws or regulations that may apply. Qualified counsel should be sought with questions specific to your circumstances. © 2021 Federated Mutual Insurance Company.

If you’re reopening your doors or you’ve been operational the whole time, Batteries Plus Bulb and National Purchasing Partners (NPP) can help you save on the items needed to keep your business running. Members can now access big savings on batteries and bulbs of all size, as well as device repair at more than 700 Batteries Plus Bulbs stores nationwide. Make sure your thermometers are powered with alkaline or coin cell batteries. Stock extra batteries for automatic soap and hand sanitizer dispensers. Save on generators for large outdoor items and exterior lighting. Let Batteries Plus Bulbs bring your business to life.

Check this convenient checklist to help you prepare and keep critical items running. Here is our information sheet of our products and services. 

You can enroll your business for FREE with NPP to activate this Batteries Plus Bulbs offer and more. NPP is a member benefit provider of EMA.

Restrictions may apply.