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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH: SUPPORT FOR RENEWABLE FUELS MUST BE BACKED UP WITH ACTION

Renewable Biofuels Key Part of Solution to Skyrocketing Gas Prices and to Reducing Dependency on Foreign Oil

April 25, 2006, Washington, D.C. - Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD), co-chair of the House Democratic Rural Working Group, today praised President Bush's new commitment to renewable fuels, but challenged the administration to back up strong words with strong actions.

Herseth and leaders throughout rural America have long championed renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel as a key solution to dependence on foreign oil and a way to assert control of our own energy needs. Herseth said, "I'm pleased that the administration is finally recognizing the need to get ethanol and biodiesel into American vehicles. For the last six years, the administration and the oil companies have fought our efforts to help develop a vibrant, sustainable ethanol industry. We hope the President's speech is followed by a new approach to energy. Words alone will do nothing to solve this problem."

Last December, the Rural Working Group announced they would craft a plan to completely eliminate our dependence on Middle Eastern oil within ten years by making a renewed commitment to biofuels. The legislative package, which will be introduced in coming weeks, will rapidly expand the production and distribution of biofuels.

The average price for a gallon of gas across the country was $2.90 over last weekend. Herseth stressed that the problem of skyrocketing gas prices is compounded by the fact that the oil comes from some of the most unstable and dangerous in the world. Herseth said, "We know that our addiction to oil costs us a great deal, both at the pump and in terms of our national security. What many of us know is that biofuels present us with a tremendous opportunity to address that problem - the opportunity to end our reliance on foreign oil, the opportunity to create thousands of good jobs in rural America, the opportunity to strengthen national security, and the opportunity to get a handle on out of control gas prices by asserting control over our own energy needs."

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