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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2005
CONTACTS:
Rhondalee A. Dean-Royce, 202-628-7001
Senate Passes
Robust 8-billion-gallon RFS, notes NCGA
ST. LOUIS (June 15, 2005) - Today, the Senate passed
a bipartisan 8-billion gallon Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) amendment
(Amendment No. 779) offered by Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) of the
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) by a 70 to 26 vote. The National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) praises Domenici (R-N.M.), Chairman
James Inhofe (R-Okla.) of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW)
Committee and the bipartisan coalition of senators for working together
to ensure the 8-billion gallon RFS remains in the Energy Policy Act
of 2005.
“Chairmen Domenici and Inhofe have shown true
leadership by working together to help ensure future growth of the domestic
renewable fuels industry in this nation and moving us forward in our
efforts to pass an energy bill and reduce our dangerous addiction to
foreign imported oil,” said Leon Corzine, NCGA president. “The
benefits of a robust 8-billion-gallon RFS are simple – energy
security, stabilization of our economy and a greener environment.”
The Domenici amendment represents a compromise between
Inhofe (R-Okla.) and the Senate EPW Committee legislation (S. 606),
Sen. Jim Talent’s (R-Mo.) amendment included in the Senate ENR
Committee legislation and the Senate’s bipartisan RFS legislation
(S. 650). The bipartisan-compromised Domenici amendment includes the
Clean Air Act provisions in the EPW legislation, the 8-billion-gallon
RFS included in the Talent amendment, and the credit-trading program
language that limits the credits to the year when they are generated
that was included in S. 650.
“The hard work and commitment of the bipartisan
coalition of senators that came together to support an 8-billion-gallon
RFS was invaluable,” said Samantha Slater, NCGA director of public
policy. “The overwhelming success of the Domenici amendment on
the floor once again demonstrates the endorsement of the important role
renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, will play in our nation’s
energy future.”
Cosponsors of the
compromised amendment, along with Domenici, include: Sens. John Thune
(R-S.D.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Charles Grassley
(R-Iowa), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.),
Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), Jim
Talent (R-Mo), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Ken
Salazar (D-Colo.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Majority Leader Bill Frist
(R-Tenn.).
The Senate Finance
Committee is expected to markup the tax title of the energy bill on
June 16. Chairman Grassley’s markup includes an extension of the
biodiesel excise tax credit through 2010, an extension of the wind production
tax credit, and two 20-percent investment tax credits for coal gasification
facilities. The price tag of the chairman’s tax title is $10.9
billion over five years and $16 billion over 10 years. Once approved
by the Senate Finance Committee, the tax title will be added to the
energy bill next week as an amendment on the Senate floor.
The Senate is expected to adjourn later today to allow senators to attend
the funeral of former Nebraska Senator Jim Exon on Thursday. The energy
debate in the Senate will continue next week.
The National Corn Growers Association mission is to create and increase
opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents nearly 33,000 members,
26 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands
of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.
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