[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2446-S2447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SUPPORTING THE USE OF ETHANOL

  Mr. VOINOVICH. Madam President, I rise today to express my support 
for the ethanol legislation that is being introduced today.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues, Senators Hagel, Lugar, Daschle, 
and Johnson, in this effort to develop an ethanol package that 
addresses the concerns of a variety of stakeholders in the energy 
debate while providing a tangible benefit for the American people. I 
believe that increasing our use of renewable fuels such as ethanol and 
biodiesel is a key element in our effort to construct a viable energy 
policy.
  As I have often stated, we face an incredible challenge in putting 
together an energy policy for our Nation. In my view, the Senate has a 
responsibility to develop a policy that harmonizes energy and 
environmental policies, and to acknowledge that the economy and the 
environment are vitally intertwined.
  As I has to be a policy that broadens our base of energy resources to 
create stability, guarantee reasonable prices, and protect America's 
security. It has to be a policy that will keep energy affordable. 
Finally, it has to be a policy that won't cripple the engines of 
commerce that fund the research that will yield future environmental 
protection technologies.

[[Page S2447]]

  I believe the passage of an ethanol bill will protect our energy 
independence, our economy, and our environment.
  Increasing the use of renewable fuels such as ethanol will protect 
our energy independence. Given the current situation in the Middle 
East, perhaps our greatest energy challenge is to reduce our reliance 
on foreign sources to meet our energy needs. As my colleagues know, the 
United States currently imports about 58 percent of our crude oil. 
President Bush has stated repeatedly that energy security is a 
cornerstone for national security and it is crucial that we become less 
dependent on foreign sources of oil and look more to domestic sources 
to meet our energy needs. Ethanol is an excellent domestic source--it 
is a clean burning, home-grown renewable fuel that we can rely on for 
generations to come.
  Creating a greater market for ethanol will protect our economy. 
Ethanol is good for our Nation's economy and, in particular, good for 
Ohio's economy. Ohio is sixth in the Nation in terms of corn 
production, and an increase in the use of ethanol across the Nation 
means an economic boost to thousands of farm families across my State. 
Ohio is one of the Nation's leading consumers of ethanol, with 40 
percent of the gasoline consumed in the State containing ethanol. 
Because of the economic benefits of increasing consumption of ethanol, 
Ohio has placed a tremendous emphasis on expanding its use and is 
actively pursuing opportunities to build ethanol production plants.
  Expanding the use of ethanol will protect our environment. Increasing 
the use of ethanol will help reduce auto emissions, which will clean 
the air and improve public health.
  The language that is being introduced today is identical to the 
ethanol title passed by the Senate in last year's comprehensive energy 
bill. It is important to note that while this body overwhelmingly 
supported inclusion of an ethanol title in that bill, there were some 
significant issues raised during debate on this provision.
  As chairman of the Clean Air Subcommittee, I intend to hold hearings 
on, and to mark up, this legislation so that it can be included in this 
Congress' version of comprehensive energy legislation. I know that 
Senator Inhofe, Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, 
has some strong issues with the way that MTBE is dealt with in this 
legislation, and I intend to work closely with him to see that those 
issues are resolved before we move forward with this bill.
  I was delighted that the Senate was able to come together and craft a 
bipartisan agreement on ethanol during the last Congress. It is my hope 
that that spirit of bipartisanship will continue throughout this 
Congress and that we can finally enact a comprehensive national energy 
policy that includes ethanol as one of its key provisions.

                          ____________________