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NCGA Extremely Pleased with Huge Ethanol Victory; Schumer Amendment Shot
Down
April
24, 2002
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Gary Bradley, NCGA, 636-733-9004, ext. 139
John McClelland, NCGA, (202) 628-7001
(WASHINGTON) April 24, 2002 -- The National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) was pleased to see, even though Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
and Charles Schumer (D-NY) ran through a long list of ethanol myths
during speeches on the Senate floor Tuesday, Schumer's amendment to
strike the renewable fuels standard (RFS) from S. 517, the Senate energy
bill, was tabled by a vote of 69-30.
"This vote
was about the future of this country and taking real steps to become
energy independent," said NCGA President Tim Hume "We are
grateful for the support the United States Senate gave to renewable
fuels with this vote. This is a huge win for corn growers and the coalition
of agriculture, oil, ethanol and environmental groups that came together
to forge this historic RFS agreement.
"Our opponents
talked a great deal about what could not be done," continued Hume,
a farmer from Walsh, Colo. "What they have failed to recognize
is the determination of U.S. farmers to play a role in this nation's
energy future. This is a great day for the nation's corn growers and
people all over the country who are concerned about our dependence on
foreign oil.
"There are so many people who helped us with this great victory,"
he concluded. "But the biggest thanks has to go to those corn growers
and
farmers who contacted their elected officials, letting them know the
importance of renewable fuels and the RFS to our energy future."
Corn growers and
other ethanol supporters can tell their Senators to approve the comprehensive
energy bill which includes the RFS by clicking on the Action Alert at
www.ncga.com.
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The National Corn
Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities
for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn's profitability
and usage. NCGA represents more than 32,000 members, 25 affiliated state
corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute
to state checkoff programs.
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