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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NCGA Continues Push
in House for an RFS
Group letter urges Congress to adopt important fuels provisions
April
9 ,
2003
Contact: Tracy Taylor
Grondine, NCGA, 202-628-7001
(WASHINGTON) April 9, 2003-Continuing its push for a renewable fuels
standard (RFS), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along
with the Renewable Fuels Coalition, today sent a letter to the House
urging adoption of fuels provisions in H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act
of 2003. The bill includes an RFS and a repeal of the federal oxygen
content requirement for reformulated gasoline (RFG).
"NCGA has been working closely with the House leadership to coordinate
efforts during this process," said NCGA President Fred Yoder. "Passing
an RFS this year is NCGA' s number one legislative priority."
Yoder noted the H.R. 6 schedule increases demand for ethanol by including
a 5-billion-gallon RFS by 2015, but NCGA believes this is a stepping-stone
for getting 5 billion gallons by 2010.
"We had a victory earlier today when the Senate Environment and
Public Works Committee passed S. 791, the Reliable Fuels Act of 2003.
We are one step closer to reaching a comprehensive fuels agreement.
Our focus now is keeping the fuel provisions intact in the House energy
bill while working on the numbers."
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to act April 9 on the energy
bill with floor debate on the legislation April 10.
Please read on for full text of the letter and signatories.
The "Fuels Agreement" of the Energy Policy Act of 2003
April 09, 2003
Dear Member of Congress:
We are writing to urge the House to adopt the important fuels provisions
contained in the Energy Policy Act of 2003 (H.R. 6), that would ensure
reliable fuels supplies as part of its comprehensive energy bill as
reported by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on April 2. We believe
the House energy bill is a key component to our nation' s comprehensive
energy policy and, therefore, is a positive step toward national energy
security.
Title IX of H.R. 6 includes fuels provisions that are essential to a
comprehensive energy policy, including a national renewable fuels standard
(RFS) with a credit banking and trading system and repeal of the federal
oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline (RFG).
Last year, the undersigned organizations formed a coalition, which crafted
a workable compromise between energy and environmental groups, the petroleum
industry, and the agriculture community. This agreement has galvanized
our organizations to support a package of fuels provisions in energy
legislation.
Although the coalition would like to see some aspects of the fuels provision
improved, Title IX of H.R. 6 is a positive step forward and we urge
its adoption in the House of Representatives. Thank you for your interest
in this important issue and we look forward to continuing our work with
Congress on this matter.
Sincerely,
National Corn Growers Association
American Petroleum Institute
Renewable Fuels Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
National Farmers Union
American Soybean Association
# # #
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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