As Senate Readies for Energy Bill Debate, NCGA Asks Members to
Send Gas Receipts to Senators
(6-7-06)
The need for
comprehensive energy legislation with a Renewable Fuel Standard
has prompted National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President
Leon Corzine to send a letter to corn producers across the United
States encouraging them to flood their senators’ district
offices with gas receipts showing high pump prices. Growers are
encouraged to write short personal messages on the back of the receipts
about the positive impact of ethanol on gas prices.
U.S. gasoline
prices averaged $2.11 per gallon today, up a penny from Monday. The
high prices are raising concerns with corn growers and consumers
across the country. A recent study by the Consumer Federation of
America found that consumers could be paying up to 8 cents per gallon
less for their gasoline if oil companies would simply blend more
ethanol into fuel supplies.
To ensure legislators
who represent corn growers understand the importance of ethanol
in the gas price equation, Corzine asks corn growers to write a
simple message on the back of a gas receipt, such as, “Ethanol
makes good sense and good cents! Motorists could be paying less
at the pump if more gasoline contained ethanol. Pass the energy
bill with an 8 billion gallon RFS now!”
“As the
debate on a comprehensive energy bill including a Renewable Fuel
Standard (RFS) is gaining momentum in the Senate, prospects for
passage of the bill are brighter than ever. But the battle is far
from over. We need your help to ensure Congress sends an energy
bill with an 8 billion gallon RFS to the president’s desk
this year,” Corzine’s letter states.
Corzine said
it is important for each grower to include a name, town and state
on the receipt. District office addresses and fax numbers for your
senators may be found on the Legislative Action Center at www.ncga.com.
Corzine also stated it was important to mail the receipts to the
state district offices because the mail processing situation in
Washington, D.C., will prevent senators from receiving the notes
in a timely manner.
The Senate is
expected to vote on its version of the energy bill in mid- to late
June.