WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson sent a letter today to leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives expressing concern regarding the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012.

“NFU members are concerned that the Strategic Energy Production Act of 2012 calls for a plan to increase domestic petroleum and natural gas upon drawdown of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SRP),” said Johnson. “We view this as a means to discourage use of the SPR for its intended purposes. We instead support continued development of renewable energy as our main priority in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Domestically produced renewable fuels are good not only for farmers, but also for consumers. For example, ethanol produced by American farmers and ranchers already saves consumers nearly $1 per gallon.”

In the letter, Johnson also supported amendment #15 by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and amendment #26 by Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Markey and Barney Frank, D-Mass.

“Amendment #15 would prohibit oil and gas produced under new leases authorized by this legislation from being exported to foreign countries,” said Johnson. “Amendment #26 would require certain funds received from the sale of new leases to be made available to fully fund the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to limit speculation in energy markets. As the agency that has been tasked with increased authority over agricultural, energy and financial markets as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the CFTC needs significantly greater resources in order to help guard against economic crisis.”