In a statement released today, a coalition of livestock and poultry groups commended Sens. Jim Webb
(D-VA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), along with 11 of their colleagues, for asking the Senate leadership to end
the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) and tariff on imported ethanol as soon as possible.

“The 73-27 Senate vote on June 16 made it clear that there was no further need for the VEETC or import tariff,” the groups said. The organizations raised concerns, however, about a pending compromise deal that would immediately eliminate the VEETC and import tariff, but use the budget “savings” for ethanol infrastructure such as pipelines and pumps.

That money would be better spent reducing the deficit or encouraging the development of new alternative biofuel energy sources that do not directly compete with livestock feed needs, the groups said in their statement.

In addition to the National Pork Producers Council, coalition members include the American Meat Institute,
California Dairies Inc., the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Chicken Council, the National
Meat Association and the National Turkey Federation.