Dusty Johnson: “I rise to urge the House-Senate Energy Bill conferees to resist any efforts from House Republican conferees to alter or…”

“I rise to urge the House-Senate Energy Bill conferees to resist any efforts from House Republican conferees to alter or weaken the renewable fuels standard that was included in the Senate energy bill. The new standard was crafted in a consensus manner and supported by a strong majority in the Senate. It must remain intact in the conference report. Earlier this Congress, I introduced a bill with Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, the Renewable Fuels for Energy Security Act of 2001, S. 1006, to ensure future growth for ethanol and biodiesel through the creation of a new, renewable fuels content standard in all motor fuel produced and used in the United States. The framework of this bill was included in the Senate energy bill, requiring that 5 billions gallons of transportation fuel be comprised of renewable fuel by 2012, nearly a tripling of the current ethanol production. While the House of Representatives version of the bill did not include a renewable fuels standard, this issue was thoroughly debated on the Senate floor during consideration of the energy bill. Several amendments were offered to weaken or eliminate the renewable fuels standard but all of those efforts were soundly defeated.”