WASHINGTON – The American Meat Institute joined a broad coalition of associations, in separate letters, to support two House amendments to the Continuing Resolution currently being debated in Congress that would reduce federal support of ethanol.

Signed by AMI and 14 other trade associations, the first letter urges support for an amendment introduced by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from using appropriated funds to increase the amount of allowable ethanol content in gasoline to 15% (E15).


“Protection of the environment and the nation’s motorists must take precedence over the politics of biofuels,” the groups wrote. “Simply stated, this amendment will call a halt to EPA’s headlong rush to introduce E15 at least until unbiased and independent testing on the impact.”

The second letter, signed by a diverse group of business associations, hunger and development organizations, agricultural groups, environmental groups, budget hawks and free marketers, urges support for a measure introduced by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), which would protect taxpayers from being forced to pay for ethanol pumps and storage facilities.

“We believe that taxpayers should not foot the bill for ethanol infrastructure; instead, this cost should be borne on the fuel providing (ethanol and oil) industries themselves,” the letter states.

Both letters, sent to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), with copies to all House members, can be read athttp://bit.ly/ec8HQQ.