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ACGA applauds finance committee for bold farm family, rural ini
Standing disaster program and renewable energy incentives key to stronger rural economy Keith Bolin, President of the American Corn Growers Association, applauded the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance for passage of key rural legislation approved this week. "ACGA is very pleased with the leadership and initiative of Chairman Max Baucus, D-MT, and Ranking Member Charles Grassley, R-IA, for their bold family farm initiatives contained the in committee's Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act of 2007," declared Bolin. "This landmark legislation addresses many of the key provisions sought by ACGA from this Congress and they also found innovative ways to pay for the entire bill without adding to the federal deficit." Some of the key elements supported by ACGA in the Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act include: --An "Agricultural Disaster Relief Fund" to provide standing authority for the federal government to provide assistance to farmers when natural disaster strikes, --A two-year extension of the biodiesel tax credits, --New incentives for cellulosic ethanol production, --A two-year extension of the small ethanol producer credit, --Rural Renaissance bonds for distance learning and telemedicine, and telecommunications projects, --A two-year extension of the ethanol import tariff, --A personal 30-percent tax credit for residential wind property, --And many other pro-rural business provisions "The standing disaster authority was one of ACGA's top priorities for farmers this year," said Bolin. "This important measure is so critical as not only expedites relief to farm and ranch families when it is needed, but it also negates the Congressional politics of passing ad hoc programs with too little assistance too late. I am reminded of the agriculture disaster bill enacted this past May which included assistance for farmers hard hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. That is how long it took to get the assistance, and now, thanks to the work of Chairman Baucus, Senators Grassley, and other key leaders on the Finance committee, we are a step closer to avoiding such delays in assistance in the future." "ACGA, a leader in renewable energy is also elated with the extensions of key renewable energy incentives as well as new incentives for cellulosic ethanol," concluded Bolin. "The Heartland, Habitat, Harvest, and Horticulture Act is good government and it is due to strong leadership, imagination and bipartisan cooperation by all members of the Finance committee." ACGA represents 14,000 members in 35 states. For more information, or if you would like to join ACGA or help support our efforts, please see www.acga.org. Date: 11/2/07
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