Agriculture Energy Coalition Voices Opposition to House Farm Bill Legislation
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, the Agriculture Energy Coalition sent a letter to the House of
Representatives, opposing the House farm billÔÇÖs elimination of a
stand-alone energy title and exclusion of mandatory funding for energy
programs. The House of Representatives is expected to begin floor debate
of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) soon. The
Agriculture Energy CoalitionÔÇÖs efforts to preserve and fund the energy
title programs are supported by more than 200 renewable energy and
energy efficiency trade associations and companies.
The letter states, in part:
ÔÇ£The Coalition stands with the farmers, ranchers, rural small businesses
and countless others that rely on good farm and nutrition policy. Farm
country is hurting right now, and we urge Congress to meet its
obligations to support a strong agricultural economy. Successful energy
and sustainability programs must be funded and prioritized along with
the other core elements of the farm bill. The lack of an energy title
will have a chilling effect on private sector investment in renewable
energy, new technologies, and innovative manufacturing in rural
communities.ÔÇØ
ÔÇ£The bipartisan energy title must be reinstated, with mandatory funding
for key programs. The federal investment is minimal, less than 1 percent
of total farm bill spending, yet incentivizes hundreds of thousands of
jobs, new manufacturing, technology innovation and a cleaner, healthier
America. More than 1.5 million U.S. workers manufacture biobased
products, generating over $127 billion in annual economic activity.ÔÇØ
A full copy of the letter is available on the Ag Energy Coalition
website, at http://agenergycoalition.org/.
Contacts
Agriculture Energy Coalition
Lloyd Ritter, 202-215-5512
