WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NPRA, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, was one of 15 organizations signing a letter to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives today supporting a measure by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) that would bar the Environmental Protection Agency from using federal funds to cover EPA costs involved with increasing the amount of ethanol in gasoline from the current 10 percent to 15 percent.

The letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), with copies to all House members, was signed by a wide-ranging collection of organizations that frequently hold varying viewpoints on energy and environmental issues.

The signers are: Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; American Bakers Association; American Meat Institute; American Petroleum Institute; California Dairies, Inc.; Grocery Manufacturers Association; International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association; National Association of Truck Stop Operators; National Chicken Council; National Marine Manufacturers Association; National Petrochemical & Refiners Association; National Turkey Federation; Outdoor Power Equipment Institute; Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council; and the Specialty Equipment Market Association.

The letter states: "The undersigned organizations urge you to support Congressman John Sullivan's amendment to H.R. 1, the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution, to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from using appropriated funds to increase the amount of allowable ethanol content in gasoline to 15% (E15). The amendment is necessary to protect consumers and the environment and deserves your strong support.

"Our organizations rarely agree on any public policy issue, but we are united in opposing the premature introduction of E15. Protection of the environment and the nation's motorists must take precedence over the politics of biofuels. Simply stated, this amendment will call a halt to EPA's headlong rush to introduce E15 at least until unbiased and independent testing on the impact of E15 on vehicle and off-road engines and the environment can be completed. We collectively urge you to support the Sullivan E15 amendment to H.R. 1 when it is offered this week."

SOURCE National Petrochemical & Refiners Association

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http://www.npra.org