WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today requested the attendance of 15 CEO’s whose companies are prominent members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association as well as the Association’s President and CEO Cal Dooley. Dooley requested a meeting in a letter to Grassley on June 6th.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schaefer was also invited and has already confirmed his attendance at the meeting.
“I’m happy to have a dialogue with these CEOs. I think they’ll have a lot to offer and be able to better explain whether this campaign is more interested in the acceleration of advanced biofuels as Mr. Dooley claims, or the ‘bottom line’ for food producers as was stated by GMA’s vice president for federal affairs,” Grassley said.
Here is a copy of the text of the letter to Campbell Soup Company. Del Monte Foods Company, Lakeside Foods, Sara Lee Corporation, Dean Foods Company, Hormel Foods Corporation, Proctor & Gamble Company, Kellogg Company, Land O’Lakes, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kraft Foods, Ralston Foods, Cargill, and Archer Daniels Midland received the same letter. Following that letter is a copy of the text of the letter to Dooley.
June 13, 2008
Mr. Douglas R. Conant
President and Chief Executive Officer
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Place
Camden, NJ 08103
Dear Mr. Conant:
On June 6, Mr. Cal Dooley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grocery Manufacturers Association requested an opportunity to meet with me to discuss the relationship between U.S. biofuels policies and the impact on commodity and food prices. This type of discussion is timely in light of the objective of GMA to “obliterate whatever intellectual justification might still exist for corn-based ethanol among policy elites.”
In an effort to have a meaningful discussion and ensure that the meeting is as productive as possible, I respectfully request your attendance because of your prominent membership in the Grocery Manufacturers Association. You are in a better position to explain whether this campaign is more interested in the acceleration of advanced biofuels as Mr. Dooley claims, or the “bottom line” for food producers as was stated by Scott Faber, GMA’s vice president for federal affairs.
I’m pleased to offer 2:00 on Tuesday, June 24th in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Building for such a meeting. USDA Secretary Ed Schafer also has much to offer on this topic. I have invited Secretary Schafer and he has confirmed his attendance. I recognize the many demands on your time and schedule, but I’m hopeful that you’ll be able to attend. Please contact Kurt Kovarik on my staff at 202/224-3744 to confirm your attendance.
I look forward to our meeting on the 24th of June.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
June 13, 2008
Mr. Cal Dooley
President and CEO
Grocery Manufacturers Association
1350 I Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Dear Mr. Dooley:
Thank you for your recent letter. I appreciate your willingness to have a clear and frank discussion about the facts concerning the relationship between U.S. biofuels policies and the impact on domestic and global food and commodity prices. This type of discussion is timely in light of your objective to “obliterate whatever intellectual justification might still exist for corn-based ethanol among policy elites.”
In an effort to have a meaningful discussion and ensure that the meeting is as productive as possible, I’m requesting the attendance of chief executives of a number of GMA’s member companies. I’m sure you’ll agree that the CEO’s of companies such as Campbell’s, Del Monte and Kraft are in a better position to explain whether this campaign is more interested in the acceleration of advanced biofuels as you claim, or the “bottom line” for food producers as was stated by Scott Faber, GMA’s vice president for federal affairs.
I’m pleased to offer 2:00 on Tuesday, June 24th in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Building for such a meeting. USDA Secretary Ed Schafer also has much to offer on this topic. I have invited Secretary Schafer and he has confirmed his attendance. I’m hopeful that you’ll be able to attend, and more importantly, that you’ll be able to ensure the attendance of the GMA company executives that I’ve asked to participate. Attached is a list of chief executives whose attendance has been requested.
I look forward to our meeting on the 24th of June.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
