Recently in U.S. Senate Category

Dick Lugar
U.S. Senator for Indiana
Contact: Andy Fisher • 202-224-2079 • Date: 10/1/2008
http://lugar.senate.gov • andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov

 
Lugar Supports Financial Rescue
 
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar reiterated his support for the financial rescue plan. The Senate votes tonight on the plan. Lugar encourages expeditious support by the House of Representatives.
 
"The financial rescue legislation will restore credit flow to homeowners, businesses, farmers and all the people who, by the very nature of their businesses, need to borrow money to maintain their activity and keep employees. Failure to pass such legislation would lead to massive unemployment and failure of small business and farming operations in Indiana. That is unacceptable.
 
"This legislation provides equity for the taxpayer and the businesses that will be assisted by the legislation. This is most likely to lead to the taxpayer's money being repaid over time and those funds would go toward paying down the national debt.
 
"While businesses and credit markets are being restored and rejuvenated, the legislation will stop excesses in executive compensation. The bill will contain sufficient monitoring and oversight by supervisory boards to ensure its wisest use."
 
Information on the budget impact and repayment prospects for the plan can be found at http://budget.senate.gov/republican/pressarchive/2008-09-24MarketCrises.pdf. A lead Republican negotiator working on the plan, Sen. Judd Gregg, also prepared this analysis of the high stakes of inaction:  http://budget.senate.gov/republican/pressarchive/2008-09-24MarketCrises2.pdf.
 
During his first term in the Senate, Lugar worked with the late Sen. Paul Tsongas (D-MA) to write the $1.2 billion loan guarantee legislation that saved the Chrysler Corporation. The legislation included safeguards protecting taxpayer funds, cooperation from states like Indiana that had thousands of Chrysler employees, and serious concessions from the company, its dealers and the United Auto Workers. The loans were repaid in full, with interest, to the federal government, ahead of schedule, in just 4 years. Thousands of jobs were saved and the company and its suppliers and dealers continued to thrive and pay taxes for many years.
 
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Dick Lugar
U.S. Senator for Indiana
Contact: Andy Fisher • 202-224-2079 • Date: 9/26/2008
http://lugar.senate.gov • andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov

 
Lugar Statement on Financial Rescue
 
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement on the financial rescue plan being negotiated in Congress.
 
"I have had numerous meetings with colleagues and Hoosiers over the past few days on the financial rescue plan.  Over the weekend and as long as it takes going through next week, I will continue supporting efforts to pass legislation to restore credit flow to homeowners, businesses, farmers and all the people who, by the very nature of their businesses, need to borrow money to maintain their activity and keep employees. Failure to pass such legislation would lead to massive unemployment and failure of small business and farming operations in Indiana. That is unacceptable.
 
"I am confident that we will adopt legislation that provides equity for the taxpayer and the businesses that will be assisted by the legislation. This is most likely to lead to the taxpayer's money being repaid over time and those funds would go toward paying down the national debt.
 
"While businesses and credit markets are being restored and rejuvenated, the legislation will stop excesses in executive compensation. The bill will contain sufficient monitoring and oversight by supervisory boards to ensure its wisest use."
 
Information on the budget impact and repayment prospects for the plan can be found at http://budget.senate.gov/republican/pressarchive/2008-09-24MarketCrises.pdf. A lead Republican negotiator working on the plan, Sen. Judd Gregg, also prepared this analysis of the high stakes of inaction:  http://budget.senate.gov/republican/pressarchive/2008-09-24MarketCrises2.pdf.  
 
During his first term in the Senate, Lugar worked with the late Sen. Paul Tsongas (D-MA) to write the $1.2 billion loan guarantee legislation that saved the Chrysler Corporation. The legislation included safeguards protecting taxpayer funds, cooperation from states like Indiana that had thousands of Chrysler employees, and serious concessions from the company, its dealers and the United Auto Workers. The loans were repaid in full, with interest, to the federal government, ahead of schedule, in just 4 years. Thousands of jobs were saved and the company and its suppliers and dealers continued to thrive and pay taxes for many years.
 
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United States Senate
WASHINGTON, DC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2008
 
Contact:          Kate Cyrul / Jennifer Mullin (Harkin) 202-224-3254
                        Andy Fisher (Lugar) 202-224-2079
 
 
HARKIN, LUGAR INTRODUCE MEASURE TO INCREASE NUMBER OF FLEX-FUEL VEHICLES
 
Bill seeks to reduce dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
 
Washington, D.C. - Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) today introduced a bill to expand the number of flex-fuel (FFV) vehicles, those that are specially designed to run on gasoline or any blend of up to 85% ethanol (E85).  The lawmakers urged that more FFVs be manufactured and available to U.S. motorists so that the country can reduce its dependence on foreign oil, cut back greenhouse gas emissions and bolster rural economic development.
 
Automakers are currently selling dual fuel vehicles that can operate on ethanol-gasoline blends up to 85 percent ethanol, but currently FFVs make up less than 10 percent of new vehicles sold in the United States.  The lawmakers believe we need to sharply accelerate the number of such vehicles to enable continued expansion of ethanol in transportation fuel markets.  The bill will expand the number of vehicles at a rapid pace, but will not impose undue production cost challenges for auto manufacturers.
 
"More and more ethanol is being produced, and we need to keep increasing production in order to break our addiction to foreign oil.  Yet to make full use of the increased ethanol we can produce and need to produce, we must have more vehicles on the road which can use up to 85-percent ethanol," said Harkin. "This bill will give consumers the flex-fuel vehicles they want to drive so they can use greater quantities of domestic, renewable fuels.  And as they use more of those domestic renewable fuels, that will help rebuild U.S. energy security while improving economic growth, creating new jobs and increasing farm income in this country."
 
"We depend on oil from foreign-government controlled supplies for our transportation energy needs.  This jeopardizes U.S. security and prosperity.  Therefore, we must attain genuine energy security with supplies sufficient enough to grow our economy and insulate us from foreign manipulation.  Renewable energy offers the greatest hope to wed our energy security needs with economic growth and environmental stewardship," Lugar said. "This bill with improve the demand for homegrown fuel.
 
The Dual Fuel Automobile Act of 2008 calls for 50 percent of all light-duty vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States to be dual fuel automobiles by 2011.  It increases that to 90 percent of all light-duty vehicles manufactured for U.S. sales by 2013.  These requirements are reasonable because it is known that gasoline vehicles require relatively minor changes in fuel system designs to be able to use blends of gasoline and ethanol, which qualify them for dual fuel designation.
 
Harkin and Lugar have partnered together on several efforts to boost access to renewable energy.  In March 2007, the two introduced The Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2007, directing the Department of Energy to conduct a feasibility study on transporting ethanol by pipeline.  The measure was included in the energy bill that became law on December 19, 2007.  An expanded version of that measure was also included in the farm bill, the Food Conservation and Energy Act, which became law on May 22, 2008.  The two have also supported a robust Renewable Fuels Standard.  Both cosponsored the Fuels Security Act of 2005, calling for at least 8 billion gallons of ethanol to be used annually by 2012.
 
           
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Dick Lugar
U.S. Senator for Indiana
Contact: Andy Fisher • 202-224-2079 • Date: 9/11/2008
http://lugar.senate.gov • andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov

 
Oil is 85 percent of July Trade Deficit
 
Americans spent $52.8 billion on imported petroleum in July, twice the amount from a year earlier -- and representing 85 percent of the month's $62.2 billion trade deficit.
 
"The Congress has been unable to agree on approving renewable energy tax credits costing up to $17 billion over 10 years. Likewise, the Congress has debated the merits and not come to agreement on continuing up to $17 billion over 10 years in tax credits to encourage new oil and gas exploration in the United States. Yet, we've spent 3-times that $17 billion amount in just one month on imported oil," U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar said.
 
The monthly census bureau trade report showed that the U.S. imported 1 million fewer barrels of oil than July 2007, but the cost of per barrel went from $65.57 in July 2007 to $124.66 in July 2008 - the highest ever monthly average (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/exh17.pdf). The full trade report is available at:  http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/international/trade/tradnewsrelease.htm.
 
For more than a decade, Lugar has stressed the strategic importance of energy security. He just returned from a 15-day energy-focused mission, meeting with critical leaders in Europe to press his case (http://lugar.senate.gov/energy/).  Lugar's legislative efforts promote sustainable energy production and use, incentives for renewable fuels like cellulosic ethanol and E85, increased fuel economy in cars, and clean coal.
 
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Contact:
Andy Fisher
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sen. Dick Lugar
andy_fisher@foreign.senate.gov
202-224-2079
 
Newport VX Destruction important for State and National Security
August 14, 2008 - available for immediate publication
By U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN)
 
On August 8, the last drops of the 1,269 tons of deadly VX nerve agent were destroyed at the Newport (Indiana) Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. This is a signal achievement for the workers at Newport, the community and our national security.
 
Plans for destroying VX at Newport began more than 20 years ago. Throughout the years, I supported the Army funds for research and development of the best and safest way to get rid of the VX. I also pushed for public hearings and encouraged an open public participation process. The research and debate resulted in a neutralization method which has now been completed.
 
The destruction process was accelerated a decade ago by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which required countries to eliminate their chemical weapons and materials by 2012.  The 1997 Senate debate on the treaty was protracted and contentious, but we finally succeeded in passing the treaty by a vote of 74-26. The CWC required other nations to follow our lead in destroying these nefarious weapons.
 
The biggest stockpile was in Russia, which declared more than 40,000 metric tons of chemical weapons. As the Soviet Union disintegrated, so did security of facilities where chemical agent was stored -- ready for combat -- in munitions. In a photo that has appeared around the world, I am shown in one of these storage barns putting a shell in a briefcase to demonstrate how easy it would be to steal.  (Link to Nunn-Lugar photos:  http://lugar.senate.gov/photos/nunnlugar/) That one 80-mm shell had the lethal potential of killing 80,000 people gathered in a stadium. It was essential that the United States not trust to luck that these chemicals would be safely guarded and then systemically destroyed. Later this year, the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program will complete the Shchuchye destruction facility in Russia that will destroy 2 million shells filled with deadly chemical agent. Last year, I visited Albania to celebrate the Nunn-Lugar program's destruction of that nation's entire stock of chemical weapons.
 
At the April 8, 2000 groundbreaking ceremony for the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, I noted that: "Chemical weapons are known as the poor man's nuclear bomb because in some cases they can be manufactured from items available in the commercial market. They are easier to acquire and build than other weapons of mass destruction. With the end of the Cold War the natural barriers that were in place to prevent the spread of this weaponry disappeared. In some cases this technology has gone on sale to the highest bidder. This has increased the likelihood that American troops may encounter these weapons on the battlefield. Similarly these factors have made chemical weapons popular with terrorist organizations."
 
Newport is the third U.S. facility to complete its chemical weapons destruction, and six are remaining. The quicker the U.S. and other nations destroy chemical weapons and materials, the safer the world will be.
 
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Dick Lugar
U.S. Senator for Indiana
Contact: Andy Fisher • 202-224-2079 • Date: 8/12/2008
http://lugar.senate.gov • andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov

 
Americans spent 10 times as much on oil imports in June than was invested in all new U.S. ethanol producing capacity last year
 
"Americans spent 10 times as much on imported oil in the month of June than all the investment in new U.S. ethanol producing capacity for the entirety of 2007," U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar said today.
 
Trade data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today showed that the U.S. spent $45.207 billion on oil imports for the month of June, up from $40.36 billion in the month of May, also $20 billion more than was spent in the month of June 2007 ($26.723 billion).
 
Investment in new U.S. ethanol capacity during 2007 was $4.47 billion according to the Renewable Fuels Association.
 
"Oil imports also accounted for 80 percent our $56.8 billion trade deficit for the month," Lugar said.
 
The U.S. imported 382.7 million barrels of oil in June, 31.5 fewer than a year ago. The U.S. domestically produced about 160 million barrels of oil in May (the last month on record). The U.S. produced roughly 18.5 million barrels of ethanol in May.  The full trade report is available at: http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/press.html. The oil production reports are available at:  http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html.
 
For more than a decade, Lugar has stressed the strategic importance of energy security and the economic and security risks of dependence on oil. His legislative efforts promote sustainable energy production and use, incentives for renewable fuels like cellulosic ethanol and E85, increased fuel economy in cars, and clean coal.
 
The Lugar Energy Initiative at http://lugar.senate.gov/energy highlights not only the repercussions of America's dangerous dependence on imported oil, but also provides information on energy legislation introduced by Lugar, commentary by outside experts and information on alternative and renewable energy sources.
 
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Senators Richard Lugar
and Evan Bayh

 
For Immediate Release                                          August 5, 2008                             
Lugar Contact:  Andy_Fisher@lugar.senate.gov  (202) 224-2079
Bayh Contact:  Eric_Kleiman@bayh.senate.gov  (202) 224-1062       
                    
 
 
U.S. Contributes $50 million to establish
International Nuclear Fuel Bank
 
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a $50 million donation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the purpose of establishing an International Nuclear Fuel Bank.
 
The funding was authorized late last year in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. U.S. Sens. Dick Lugar and Evan Bayh worked with the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services to include the funding and Statement of Managers recognizing the need for the Lugar-Bayh legislation, S. 1133, The Nuclear Safeguards and Supply Act of 2007.
 
"This is an important step in the U.S. promotion of an International Nuclear Fuel Bank. We will continue to work to advance this critical new component of nuclear nonproliferation," said Lugar, the Republican leader of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.   
 
"We must ensure that technology and resources are in place to manage the expansion of civilian nuclear power abroad.  An International Nuclear Fuel Bank will provide safeguards against rogue nations who would use civilian nuclear energy programs as a cover for nuclear weapons development," said Bayh, a Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
 
Link to the press release on the funding authorization: http://lugar.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=289073.
Link to the Department of Energy announcement:  http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/2090.htm.
 
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For Immediate Release:  
July 30, 2008
 
Contacts:
(Biden) Elizabeth Alexander 202-224-5042
(Lugar) Andy Fisher 202-224-2079
Historic BIDEN/LUGAR Global AIDS Bill Becomes Law

Biden/Lugar Legislation Authorizing $48 Billion for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB
Signed by President TODAY
Washington, DC - Historic legislation sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) and Ranking Member Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) to authorize $48 billion for global HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis programs for the next five fiscal years became law today.  Senators Biden and Lugar were present in the East Room of the White House as the President signed the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 - a landmark step in the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases.

"In 2003, we launched the largest public health program the world had ever seen and it had a dramatic impact, saving millions of lives," said Senator Joe Biden. "We've made tremendous strides, but our work is not nearly finished.  Two million people died last year of HIV/AIDS.  Over two and a half million people died of malaria and TB.  That's over 10,000 people killed per day - per day - because of these diseases. An entire generation - and the stability of many countries - remains at risk. It is our moral obligation to lead the world in this fight.  This legislation is a product of bipartisan and bicameral compromise and shared commitment to saving lives worldwide. I would also like to thank the President. His decision to launch this initiative was bold and unexpected, and I believe historians may regard it as his finest hour.  I'm proud to be here with Senator Lugar as the President signs the bill into law."
 
"I thank President and Laura Bush for their commitment to stem the tide of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria worldwide.  PEPFAR has accomplished a great deal in its first five years and yielded enormous foreign policy benefits.  It has helped to prevent instability and societal collapse in a number of at-risk countries; stimulated contributions from other wealthy nations to fight AIDS; facilitated deep partnerships with a new generation of African leaders; and improved attitudes toward the United States in Africa and other regions.  By reauthorizing PEPFAR, we will continue to save lives on a massive scale and preserve the fabric of numerous fragile societies," said Senator Lugar.
 
Senators Biden and Lugar's legislation (S. 2731/H.R. 5501) specifically:
 
Authorizes $48 billion to combat global HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis over the next five fiscal years;
 
Sets ambitious targets for saving millions of lives through HIV/AIDS treatment, care, and prevention and the training of health care workers;
 
Removes earmarks that had constrained the effectiveness of our programs and provides for a flexible approach to helping countries combat their local epidemics;
 
Strengthens efforts to address the special vulnerabilities of girls and women to HIV/AIDS, prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to children and expand access to treatment for children;
 
Substantially increases U.S. assistance to prevent and treat malaria through insecticide treated bed-nets, indoor residual spraying, access to anti-malarial drugs and other tools;
 
Expands efforts to combat tuberculosis including the growing problem of drug resistant strains of TB; and
 
Repeals the legal ban on visas for persons infected with HIV.
 
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Dick Lugar
U.S. Senator for Indiana
Contact: Andy Fisher • 202-224-2079 • Date: 7/29/2008
http://lugar.senate.gov • andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov

 
Lugar:  'One of today's big ideas should be the eradication of hunger worldwide'
 
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement today roll-out of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Food Security Task Force.
 
 
            I thank CSIS and my friend John Hamre for hosting this event.  I join in congratulating Stephen Morrison, Johanna Nesseth, and the entire CSIS Task Force for an outstanding report.  This important study reflects the work of numerous contributors with expertise in the many fields that affect global food security.  It is also a pleasure to again join with my friend and Foreign Relations Committee Colleague, Senator Casey, as we attempt to strengthen our own basis for advancing ideas that could have a positive impact on the global food situation.
 
            As we are all aware, the current food crisis owes its existence to a complex web of factors that have come together at the same moment.  The situation threatens to not just increase hunger, but to undo many of the development and health gains that have been achieved over the last decade.  Our response must be as multifaceted as the cause.
 
            By 2015, it is predicted that the world will hold more than 7 billion people, with increasing stress on land, water, and energy supplies.  In the days of Malthus, people worried that food production would not keep pace with a growing population.  But Malthus was wrong.  Just as he and his contemporaries did not see the role that technology and innovation would play to overcome his dire predictions, today we must not allow an aversion to modern agricultural technology to doom a part of the world's population to chronic hunger and poverty.
 
            Conventional biotechnology and sustainable farming techniques have not been disseminated globally.  Many regions missed the benefits of the Green Revolution.  Since then, the level of investment devoted to raising agricultural productivity in the developing world has declined markedly.  In some parts of the world, farmers are trying to feed their families with technology that would not seem out of place in biblical times.
 
This represents a failure of both donor and host governments to focus development work in agriculture and in rural environments.  Parts of the world may be starved for food, but they are also "starved for science," as a fellow Hoosier, Robert Paarlberg has observed in his recent book of that title.  Overcoming the science deficiency requires refocused attention on increasing investments in agricultural productivity through better seeds and fertilizers, improved and sustainable farming techniques, and farmer access to small loans and extension support.
 
            Twenty-three countries are taking advantage of the most advanced technology - that is - genetically modified crops.  Nearly all of them are food exporters.  Not surprisingly, the nearly 40 countries that are threatened by the recent spikes in food prices and by increases in the number of undernourished are not on this list.
 
GM technology has provided significant farm yield increases and pesticide use decreases.   Yet since 2000, many countries with chronic food insecurity have rejected or limited the import of genetically modified foodstuffs, including food aid.  These countries include Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Sudan, Namibia, and Benin, among others.   The fear of GM crops has been most prevalent in Europe.  Many developing countries, especially in Africa, worry that if they adopt GM crops, they will not be able to export to Europe.  The governments and people of Europe must understand that their opposition to safe GM technology contributes to hunger in Africa.
 
            Major food producing countries have more in common than just technology.  They also have good agriculture schools that produce scientists and business entrepreneurs, and extension services that disseminate information to small farmers.  Nations experiencing food insecurity generally lack investments in human capital that are necessary to broaden and sustain growth in food production.
 
The U.S. Land-Grant College system has provided this component to American agriculture.  I have recommended that a similar structure be established globally.  Such a networked system of agriculture schools can provide advancements in technology and facilitate its transfer between nations.  It can also provide the human capital that is necessary for sustainable development.  Knowledgeable farmers and ambitious scientists will be at the core of any successful effort to meet global food needs in the face of rising populations, climate change, and energy scarcity.
 
As the report before us today notes, food and energy security must be goals we pursue simultaneously.  One does not need to detract from the other.  Indeed, overcoming energy scarcity is one of the key components to ensuring an affordable and transportable global food supply.  Abandoning biofuels ultimately would reduce the planet's ability to feed itself.  The science that has gotten us to this point will also take us beyond the use of food crops for biofuels.  Major progress can be made in accelerating advanced biofuels derived from agriculture, forest, and municipal waste, and from special energy crops like switchgrass.
 
            When crises occur, we can view them as challenges or opportunities.  I choose to see the food crisis as an opportunity for the United States to demonstrate its humanitarian and technological leadership.  Our country has always stood for, and been motivated by, big ideas - from the founding of the Republic on the basis of freedom; to the creation of a diverse, continental nation; to putting a man on the moon.  One of today's big ideas should be the eradication of hunger worldwide.  We can bring America's dedication to science, innovation, technology, and education to bear on expanding the global food supply and helping others feed themselves.  It is in our own interest to lead the world in developing and disseminating innovative solutions to ensure that food scarcity does not hold back human potential.
 
            Once again, I thank CSIS for its leadership in establishing this Task Force.  I appreciate the opportunity to put forward ideas for the final report.   I look forward to working with Senator Casey and all of you to advance proposals that can result in greater food security.
 
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Dick Lugar
U.S. Senator for Indiana
Contact: Andy Fisher • 202-224-2079 • Date: 7/29/2008
http://lugar.senate.gov • andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov

 
Lugar joins National Farmers Union
announcement of carbon credit payments
 
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement at a Capitol press conference today:
 
On Earth Day in April 2007, Tom Buis and Richard Sandor, chairman of the Chicago Climate Exchange, came to the Lugar farm in Indiana to celebrate this partnership.
 
Trading carbon credits was a good idea then.  It's a great idea now.  It will be an even better idea in the future.  Hydrocarbon fuel costs will remain high.  World demand for food will remain high.  And global climate change pressures will remain high.
 
We celebrate again today because farmers participating in this market are getting paid for practicing good farming and conservation methods.  These will remain sound practices regardless of changes in cap-and-trade policy.  Low and no-till methods cut fuel usage without sacrificing production. Lower carbon output, with higher carbon absorption improves the global climate balance.  The ingenious market intervention of the Chicago Climate Exchange has given farmers some additional income while allowing carbon emitters a way of offsetting their output.  It's always good to get rewarded for doing the right thing.
 
On the Lugar farm, the Chicago Climate Exchange has estimated that my planting of black walnuts and other trees will sequester 3,400 tons of carbon by 2010.  I have credits in my account at the climate exchange, which if I exercised them now, would sell for around $3.89 a ton.
 
I congratulate my fellow farmers who have enrolled their land with the Chicago Climate Exchange through the partnership with the National Farmer's Union - I especially congratulate the 69 Indiana producers who will earn $134,737.13 from credits they have sold.
 
U.S. cropland has the potential to reduce projected world increases in carbon by 7 percent and could create over half of the reduction needed in the U.S. under proposed federal carbon caps.  I am honored to help celebrate this wonderful beginning with far-sighted partners.
 
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