Congressional Republicans have grown increasingly concerned about the impact of high diesel fuel costs on their constituents, including Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who wrote on social media on Saturday that the prices were “killing farmers income.”
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In his post on X, Grassley, a corn and soybean farmer, questioned why President Donald Trump has not pursued an export ban, as was done during a surge in prices in the 1970s.
“We need our family farmers who feed&fuel the world 2b on the strongest footing possible no matter what’s happening across the globe,” he said in a post on Sunday.
Prices of diesel, which powers everything from combines to tractors to 18-wheelers, have hit a record high in the United States, hovering near $6.45 per gallon.
Analysts have told The Washington Post that prices are projected to increase as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the war between Russia and Ukraine impacts global refining capacity.
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Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee) introduced legislation last week to restrict diesel fuel exports. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said the Senate is looking at any proposal that is a “viable solution” to bring down prices.
“If that [export ban] would take pressure off of prices, you know, I’m open to exploring it,” he told reporters last week.
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