Various organizations and companies sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urging her to oppose any effort to increase the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for ethanol.

The letter states, "New fuel sources offer the potential to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil while contributing to the long-term stability of our nation and its rural economies; however, as we seek to implement policy that will move us toward accomplishing this objective, it is absolutely essential that Congress carefully weigh the impact of such actions, especially with regards to the use of corn for fuel."

Signing the letter were the American Beverage Association, American Frozen Foods Company, American Meat Institute, Del Monte Foods Company, General Mills, Grocery Manufacturers/Food Products Association, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), National Chicken Council, National Confectioners Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Restaurant Association, National Turkey Federation, Nestle USA, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., United Egg Association, and United Egg Producers.

Meanwhile, NCBA in a letter to Congress said, "Mandating additional corn-based ethanol production will only serve to exacerbate an already difficult situation for cattle producers across the country."

-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent