WASHINGTON – Tom Buis, Chief Executive Officer of Growth Energy, a membership-based organization of America’s ethanol supporters, issued the following statement after Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln agreed to assume the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee upon Iowa Senator Tom Harkin’s decision to become chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
“Growth Energy is eager to work with Chairman Lincoln. She’s born of a farm family, and is intimately familiar with the challenges American farm families face. I believe she knows how important an economic opportunity ethanol represents to rural America,” Buis said. “We want to work with Chairman Lincoln on the challenges and opportunities to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create green jobs in America, improve our environment and provide economic opportunity in rural America.”
“We also want to take a moment to thank Senator Harkin. Although Senator Harkin is departing the top spot on the Agriculture Committee to assume the chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, he is not leaving the Ag Committee entirely. I’ve had the opportunity to work personally with Senator Harkin for more than two decades, and I know Senator Harkin is a tireless champion of family farmers and ethanol producers. Growth Energy, and the many, many ethanol supporters we represent, look forward to working with both Senators Harkin and Lincoln.”