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Action request on a comprehensive energy plan
AND the Columbia trade agreement
Energy has eclipsed all other national policy issues.
With the rising costs of energy for fuel, fertilizer, crop protection
tools and irrigation, Congress needs to address the energy issue now!
Agriculture has a direct and strong interest in the development of
domestic energy supplies and the need for reduced energy costs. Urge
your federal lawmakers to act on a comprehensive energy plan that will
reduce our input costs.
Trade with Colombia directly benefits American
agriculture. House leaders have not brought the agreement up for a vote.
With messages from Farm Bureau’s around the country requesting action,
we hope to schedule a vote and open Colombia to American agricultural
products. Urge your federal lawmakers to support the U.S.-Colombia
Trade Promotion Agreement and urge Congressional leadership to schedule
a vote.
Requested action: Contact your federal elected
leaders at their LOCAL OFFICE and request action on a
comprehensive energy plan that reduces the cost of inputs AND request
that they support support the U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement.
If you are unsure of who your federal elected leaders
are, please contact Bona Heinsohn at the Farm Bureau office
(708/354-3276) and she would be happy to provide you with that
information.
Contact information for Cook County’s Congressmen and
Senators is included at the end of this memo.
Deadline: September 5, 2008
Reporting: Call, fax or e-mail Bona at the Farm
Bureau office to report your efforts and to be included in the
semi-annual incentive drawing.
(708) 354-3276 (708) 579-6056 (fax)
bona@cookcfb.org
Background: Attached are talking points and a sample
letter.
Energy plan talking points:
Regular grade gasoline is expected to average $3.84
per gallon this year, more than a $1 above last year’s average price.
Retail diesel fuel prices, which averaged $2.88 in 2007, are projected
to average $4.35 per gallon this year, and $4.48 per gallon next year.
Rapidly increasing delivered fuel costs for power
generation, particularly for natural gas, are pushing up electricity
prices. Residential rates are projected to increase 5.2 percent this
year, and 9.8 percent next year compared with an increase of 2.2
percent in 2007.
Ethanol remains a valuable part of our energy
portfolio. Researchers say because ethanol is stretching our motor
fuel supply, it is saving American motorists as much as 60 cents per
gallon than they otherwise would be spending at today’s prices.
World consumption of liquid fuels and other
petroleum is projected to grow by almost 900,000 barrels per day this
year and by an additional 1.4 million barrels per day next year.
Meanwhile, adjusted for increased ethanol use, U.S. petroleum
consumption is projected to fall by 530,000 bbl/d this year.
Columbia trade talking points:
Because of our location, our products, processors,
and our proximity to river barges and rail transportation – Illinois
agriculture is trade dependent.
Farm Bureau supports free trade because it opens
markets and creates a level playing field for agricultural products.
Currently, Columbia has one-way market access that favors their
producers.
Since 1991, Columbia has had tariff free access to
our market for agricultural products through the Andean Trade
Preference Act. (Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia)
This FTA would open up the Columbian market to U.S. products which in
some cases face tariffs up to 80 percent.
The FTA would immediately eliminate tariffs on
three quarters of the agricultural products we sell to Columbia and
eliminate the rest of the tariffs over the next two decades.
Sample letter:
Honorable Senator/Representative First and Last Name
United States Senator/Representative
Address
City, IL Zip
Dear Honorable Senator/Representative,
The purpose of this letter is two-fold. First, as
your constituent I urge you to act on a comprehensive energy plan
that not only helps families struggling to pay their bills but also
lowers the cost of food.
Sky-rocketing fuel costs combined with rapidly
increasing natural gas costs are forcing food prices to an all time
high and a comprehensive energy plan that expands our supply of
energy is critical to keeping food affordable. With regular grade
gasoline expected to average $3.84 per gallon this year, more than
$1 above last year’s average price middle-class families are having
to decide between filling their gas tanks and buying groceries.
I also encourage you to support the U.S.-Columbia
Trade Promotion Agreement and urge Congressional leadership to
schedule a vote on this important matter. In 2007, Columbia was the
largest South American market for U.S. agricultural exports with a
record of $1.7 billion in sales including $516 million worth of corn
exports, $209 million worth of wheat exports and $168 million in
soybean and soybean meal exports.
The U.S.-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement would
increase U.S. agricultural exports by $900 million per year – money
that would be invested back into the U.S. economy.
Thank you for your consideration of these
important matters. If you have any questions or would like any
further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Your name
Contact information
Contact information:
| U.S. Senate Assistant Leader |
|
U.S. Senate |
| Richard J. Durbin |
|
Barack Obama |
| 230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 3892 |
|
230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 3900 |
| Chicago 60604 |
|
Chicago 60604 |
| (312) 353-4952 |
|
(312) 886-3506 |
| (312) 353-0150 (fax) |
|
(312) 886-3514 (fax) |
| dick@durbin.senate.gov |
|
barack@obama.senate.gov |
| |
|
|
| U.S. Representatives |
|
U.S. Representatives |
| Bobby L. Rush (district 1) |
|
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (district 2) |
| 700-706 E. 79th St |
|
17926 S. Halsted St |
| Chicago 60619 |
|
Chicago 60430 |
| (773) 224-6500 |
|
(708) 798-6000 |
| (773) 224-9624 (fax) |
|
(708) 798-6160 (fax) |
| |
|
comments@jessejacksonjr.org |
| |
|
|
| Daniel O. Lipinski (district 3) |
|
Luis V. Gutierrez (district 4) |
| 6245 S. Archer Ave. |
|
32201 W. North Ave. |
| Chicago 60638 |
|
Chicago 60647 |
| (312) 886-0481 |
|
(773) 342-0774 |
| (773) 767-9395 (fax) |
|
(773) 342-0776 (fax) |
| |
|
|
| Rahm Emanuel (district 5) |
|
Peter J. Roskam (district 6) |
| 3742 W. Irving Park Rd. |
|
150 S. Bloomingdale Rd., Ste. 200 |
| Chicago 60618 |
|
Bloomingdale 60108 |
| (773) 267-5926 |
|
(630) 893-9670 |
| (773) 267-6583 (fax) |
|
(630) 893-9735 (fax) |
| |
|
Peter.roskam@mail.house.gov |
| |
|
|
| Danny K. Davis (district 7) |
|
Melissa Bean |
| 3333 W. Arthington St., Ste. 130 |
|
1622 E. Algonquin Rd., Ste. L |
| Chicago 60624 |
|
Schaumburg 60173 |
| (773) 533-7520 |
|
(847) 925-0265 |
| (773) 533-7530 (fax) |
|
(847) 925-0288 |
| |
|
Melissa@mail.house.gov |
| |
|
|
| Janice Schakowsky (district 9) |
|
Mark Kirk (district 10) |
| 5533 N. Broadway St., Ste. 2 |
|
707 Skokie Blvd., Ste. 350 |
| Chicago 60640 |
|
Northbrook 60062 |
| (773) 506-7100 |
|
(847) 940-0202 |
| (773) 506-9202 (fax) |
|
(847) 940-7143 (fax) |
| Jan.schakowsky@mail.house.gov |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Judy Biggert (district 13) |
|
|
| 6262 S. Rt. 83 (Kingery Hwy.) |
|
|
| Willowbrook 60527 |
|
|
| (630) 655-2052 |
|
|
| (630) 655-1061 (fax) |
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