Wednesday, Reps. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Kendra Horn (D-OK), and 38 other Democratic members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA), urging them to make extension of expired tax incentives an urgent legislative priority before the end of the year. On behalf of its member companies, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) thanked the Democratic Representatives, especially the freshman members, and emphasized that renewing the biodiesel tax credits before the end of the year is crucial to reviving production, reopening production facilities, and saving jobs.
“Extending the biodiesel, alternative fuel vehicle refueling property, and second-generation biofuel producer tax credits are especially important to the regions we represent,” the Representatives write. “Participants up and down the supply chain are experiencing hardship as a result of this lengthy lapse in the credits.”
NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik added, “The biodiesel industry thanks Representatives Finkenauer and Horn for leading the effort and drawing attention to the economic situation facing advanced biofuel producers. We thank the many other Democrats who represent biodiesel producing states for insisting that their leaders make this a legislative priority before the end of the year.
“Nine biodiesel producers ? in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan and Texas ? have been forced to close, cut production, and lay off workers. That’s because blenders count on Congress to renew the tax credit and demand a discount on the price of biodiesel. As a result, producers have taken a loss for nearly two years now. The entire industry needs Congress to act before the end of the year and renew expired tax extenders.”
In addition to Reps. Finkenauer and Horn, NBB thanked Reps. Cindy Axne (D-IA), Anthony Brindisi (D-NY), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Sean Casten (D-IL), David Cicilline (D-RI), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), T.J. Cox (D-CT), Angie Craig (D-MN), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Bill Foster (D-IL), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Garamendi (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Ben Ray Luj?n (D-NM), Ben McAdams (D-UT), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Max Rose (D-NY), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Bennie Thompson (D-MS-), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).
A copy of the letter is available on Rep. Finkenauer’s website.
