Charles Skelton: “Throughout the time I have been privileged to serve in the House of Representatives, I have been honored to work with my…”

“Throughout the time I have been privileged to serve in the House of Representatives, I have been honored to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what is right for rural America. Today, the House is considering H.R. 6, its first comprehensive energy policy legislation in more than a decade. This measure will provide farm families and rural areas with an important economic boost and will recognize the unique role rural electric cooperatives play in delivering power to rural Americans. I am pleased to support this bill. H.R. 6 is good for rural Missouri. The conference report includes a long sought after Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that will gradually increase the contribution of ethanol (made from corn) and biodiesel (made from soybeans) to America's fuel supply to 5 billion gallons in 2012. The bill also includes a federal phase down and ban of the gasoline additive known as MTBE. Although I am disappointed that liability protections were included in the bill for this cancer-causing additive, I am pleased that the conference report phases MTBE out of existence over a period of time. H.R. 6 provides important renewable fuel tax provisions for ethanol and biodiesel.”