Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/881
Last Updated: December 6, 2025

Sponsored by

Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

ID: R000618

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held.

September 10, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another opportunity for our esteemed lawmakers to demonstrate their boundless ignorance and craven self-interest.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act (S 881) is a masterclass in legislative doublespeak. The stated goal is to "amend the Clean Air Act to include fuel for ocean-going vessels as additional renewable fuel" – because, you know, nothing says "clean air" like adding more fossil fuels to the mix. In reality, this bill is a thinly veiled attempt to line the pockets of special interest groups and campaign donors.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill's proponents claim it will "promote the use of renewable fuels in ocean-going vessels," but let's not be naive. The actual changes are minor tweaks to existing regulations, designed to create a new market for "renewable" fuels that are little more than rebranded fossil fuels. The amendments to Section 211(o)(1)(A) of the Clean Air Act are nothing more than a cleverly worded Trojan horse, allowing the EPA to "promulgate such regulations as may be necessary" – code for "we'll make it up as we go along."

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The real beneficiaries of this bill are the usual suspects: fossil fuel companies, shipping industry lobbyists, and their bought-and-paid-for politicians. The rest of us will just get to enjoy the privilege of paying higher prices at the pump while pretending to care about the environment.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "greenwashing" – a cynical attempt to rebrand dirty energy as clean, all while maintaining the status quo. By creating a new market for "renewable" fuels, lawmakers are essentially subsidizing the fossil fuel industry's continued dominance. Meanwhile, actual environmental progress will be sacrificed at the altar of campaign contributions and special interest group appeasement.

In short, S 881 is a legislative farce, designed to make politicians look good while doing nothing meaningful for the environment. It's a symptom of a deeper disease – the corruption and cowardice that plagues our political system. As I always say, "Everyone lies" – and this bill is just another example of how our elected officials will stop at nothing to deceive us into thinking they're working in our best interests.

Diagnosis: Terminal stupidity, with a side of greed and corruption. Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: None, because we're all too busy pretending to care about the environment while lining the pockets of special interest groups.

Related Topics

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$87,634
22 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$6,734
Committees
$0
Individuals
$80,900

No PAC contributions found

1
SPIKE OCOTILLO LLC
1 transaction
$2,500
2
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
1 transaction
$1,000
3
KING & SPALDING LLP
1 transaction
$1,000
4
GREENBERG TRAURIG
1 transaction
$1,000
5
H.A. TRUE, III
1 transaction
$1,000
6
DELTA AIRLINES
1 transaction
$234

No committee contributions found

1
VANDERSLOOT, BELINDA
1 transaction
$6,600
2
VANDERSLOOT, FRANK
1 transaction
$6,600
3
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
1 transaction
$6,600
4
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
1 transaction
$6,600
5
CASSLING, ELIZABETH
2 transactions
$6,600
6
CASSLING, MICHAEL
2 transactions
$6,600
7
SINGER, PAUL
2 transactions
$6,600
8
BECKER, AMY
2 transactions
$6,600
9
DESTEFANO, JOHN
1 transaction
$5,000
10
BARTLETT, BRUCE
1 transaction
$3,300
11
BETTGER, RICHARD
1 transaction
$3,300
12
CASTELLINI, ROBERT
1 transaction
$3,300
13
DAVIS, ASHLEY
1 transaction
$3,300
14
BALDWIN, JACK
1 transaction
$3,300
15
BAYER, MATT
1 transaction
$3,300
16
BECKER, TODD
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

ID: K000367

Top Contributors

10

1
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
Organization CASS LAKE, MN
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Aug 25, 2023
3
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
Organization DURANT, OK
$2,500
Oct 7, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$2,300
Jul 17, 2023
5
ARISTOTLE INTERNATIONAL
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
Organization WASHINGTON, DC
$500
Jul 19, 2024
6
SMITH, BRADFORD
MICROSOFT CORPORATION ATTORNEY
Individual BELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
7
SMITH, BRADFORD
Individual BELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
8
BADEN, DREW
PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Individual BETHESDA, MD
$6,600
Feb 23, 2024
9
CAUCHY, CONSTANCE
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIDLAND, MI
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024
10
BADEN, DREW
Individual BETHESDA, MD
$6,600
Mar 11, 2024

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

ID: G000386

Top Contributors

10

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
COM TAMA, IA
$2,000
Aug 8, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
COM PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jul 23, 2024
3
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$25
Jul 4, 2024
4
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jan 10, 2024
5
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONE CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jan 16, 2024
6
KUMAR, SHALLI
AVG ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CHAIR
Individual BETTENDORF, IA
$6,600
Jun 11, 2024
7
STARRETT, RONALD
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual CENTENNIAL, CO
$5,800
Jan 24, 2023
8
COLLINS, RICHARD
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual MARSHALLTOWN, IA
$5,523
Oct 1, 2024
9
COLLINS, RICHARD
Individual MARSHALLTOWN, IA
$5,523
Oct 7, 2024
10
WEISS, LUKE
HOOVER'S HATCHERY PRESIDENT
Individual MASON CITY, IA
$3,300
Dec 11, 2024

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

ID: E000295

Top Contributors

10

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
Organization TAMA, IA
$5,000
Aug 29, 2023
2
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
Organization TAMA, IA
$1,700
Sep 28, 2023
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
May 21, 2024
4
ABEL, ANDREA MS.
HOMEMAKER HOMEMAKER
Individual DES MOINES, IA
$50,000
Feb 7, 2023
5
MCINERNEY, THOMAS E. MR.
BLUFF POINT ASSOC. CORPORATION VENTURE INVESTOR
Individual WESTPORT, CT
$50,000
Feb 22, 2023
6
NICOLLS, BOB MR.
MONARCH REAL ESTATE
Individual FRANKTOWN, CO
$25,000
Mar 17, 2023
7
GRAY, C. BOYDEN
SELF-EMPLOYED ATTORNEY
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$25,000
Mar 29, 2023
8
CATSIMATIDIS, JOHN A. MR.
UNITED REFINING COMPANY CHARIMAN & CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$25,000
May 16, 2023
9
KOTICK, ROBERT MR.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD CEO
Individual SANTA MONICA, CA
$16,600
Dec 20, 2024
10
VINCZE, CHRISTOPHER
TRC COMPANIES INC. CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Individual TEQUESTA, FL
$15,800
Nov 6, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 32 nodes and 35 connections

Total contributions: $107,459

Top Donors - Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

Showing top 22 donors by contribution amount

6 Orgs16 Individuals