[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 71 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H2953]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PASS THE ``RIPE'' ACT

  (Mr. FLAKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, recently I introduced a bill to repeal some 
of the legislative provisions that have led to an artificial demand for 
ethanol. H.R. 5911, the Remove Incentives for Producing Ethanol Act of 
2008, or RIPE Act, repeals the renewable fuel standard, repeals tax 
credits for ethanol producers, and repeals tariffs and duties on 
imported ethanol. These incentives are giving ethanol producers a 
guaranteed market for their product.
  Domestic corn, already a heavily subsidized commodity, has been the 
primary source of biofuel, and the mandate has encouraged farmers to 
focus agriculture production away from food production toward fuel 
production. The Department of Agriculture has said that the biofuel 
mandate has raised fuel prices as much as 20 percent.
  In addition, ethanol's role as a supposed savior for our energy woes 
has been severely overstated. Ethanol as a fuel yields about 30 percent 
less energy per gallon than a gallon of gasoline. This is what happens 
when government picks winners and losers in the economy and the 
marketplace. Just 4 months ago, we were convinced we had a winner. It's 
turned out to be a big loser.
  We need to remove the incentive. I urge support of H.R. 5911.

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