June 13, 2011

The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader Minority Leader
United States Senate United States Senate
Washington, DC 20514 Washington, DC 20514

Dear Congressional Leaders,

The undersigned diverse group of business associations, hunger and development organizations, agricultural groups, environmental groups, budget hawks, grassroots groups and free marketers urge you to support the Coburn-Feinstein amendment, No. 436, to the to the Economic Development Revitalization Act (S. 782), which would end 30 years of tax credits for conventional ethanol and end the tariff on imported ethanol on July 1st.

Conventional ethanol is due to receive some $6 billion in refundable tax credits this year. Continuing to subsidize oil companies to blend ethanol – which they are already required to do by the Renewable Fuels Standard – is wasteful and unnecessary. This amendment will save U.S. taxpayers several billion dollars this year and have virtually no impact on ethanol production, jobs or prices.

Sincerely,
Action Aid USA
American Bakers Association
American Frozen Food Institute
American Meat Institute
Americans for Limited Government
Americans for Prosperity
California Dairies, Inc
Clean Air Task Force
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Defenders of Wildlife
Environmental Working Group
Friends of the Earth
Freedom Action
Greenpeace USA
Grocery Manufacturers Association
International Dairy Foods Association
Milk Producers Council
National Black Chamber of Commerce
League of Conservation Voters
National Chicken Council
National Council of Chain Restaurants
National Meat Association
National Restaurant Association
National Turkey Federation
National Wildlife Federation
Natural Resources Defense Council
Oxfam America
Sierra Club
Snack Food Association
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Taxpayers for Common Sense
U.S. PIRG
Union of Concerned Scientists
World Wildlife Federation