Complete Story
02/18/2010
OSA Applauds Passage of Senate Bill 131
Contact: Jamie Butts
Ohio Soybean Association
614.476.3100
jbutts@soyohio.org
NEWS RELEASE
Feb. 18, 2010
OSA Applauds Passage of Senate Bill 131
Nation's Most Comprehensive State BioPreferred Program Awaits Governor's Signature
WORTHINGTON, Ohio - The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) applauds yesterday's passage of Senate Bill 131 (S.B. 131), which will establish a bio-based product purchasing program requiring state entities along with colleges and universities to give purchasing preference to bio-based products as long as the products are comparable in price, performance and availability. The program will be administered by the Department of Administrative Services and becomes the most comprehensive state biopreferred program in the nation.
The bill adopts product standards and approved product lists established by the Federal government as part of the Federal BioPreferred purchasing program. S.B. 131 does not apply to the purchase of motor vehicle fuel, heating oil or electricity.
Yesterday, the House passed S.B. 131 with a vote of 92-1, and the Senate unanimously concurred. The bill previously passed the Senate unanimously and now awaits Governor Strickland's signature. He is expected to sign it and has already shown his commitment to bio-based products when he signed a compact in 2007 with other members of the Midwest Governor's Association supporting state implementation of the similar Federal bio-based purchasing program
S.B. 131 is sponsored by State Senator Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin) and co-sponsored by State Senator Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard). An additional 23 senators and 59 representatives signed on as co-sponsors, truly representing bi-partisan support for a bill that will spur economic development and job creation.
"During this time of economic stress, we need creative solutions to help fuel our state's economy," Gillmor said. "The combined purchasing power of the state and our public colleges and universities is enormous. This bill helps capture those dollars which the state is already spending and channel them directly back into Ohio's economy."
Bio-based products are defined as commercial or industrial products, other than food or feed, composed wholly or in significant part of biological products including renewable agricultural materials such as plant, animal, and marine or forestry materials.
"The goal of this legislation is to promote Ohio agriculture and industry," Sen. Cafaro said. "By increasing our use of bio-based products we can help Ohio's farmers and manufacturers expand and create job opportunities."
The strong agricultural industry in Ohio is the foundation upon which the state's research and manufacturing industries can build. Many Ohio research and manufacturing companies such as Ashland Chemical, Battelle, Hexion, Nutek, Proctor & Gamble, Sherwin Williams, The Scotts Company, UniVenture and others are already leading the way in bioproduct development and marketing. The bill also benefits Ohio's small businesses, many of which supply biobased products.
Additionally, the growth of the bioproducts industry in Ohio will boost the bottom line for soybean farmers. OSA has been a long-time advocate for soy bio-based product development and promotion in the state, as many bio-based products that are available today are derived from soybeans.
"By passing S.B. 131, the legislature has set Ohio up to grow the bioproducts industry here in the state, and in-turn help make Ohio soybean farmers more profitable," said Jeff Wuebker, OSA president and Darke County soybean farmer. "Soy-based bioproducts are an important new market, and this purchasing program will increase their usage in Ohio without adding any extra burden on taxpayers."
Beyond the marketplace benefits, the bill also encourages product research and development at Ohio's colleges and universities and private research institutions, in turn encouraging students to enroll and enter scientific fields using the math, science and technology of the future.
Gillmor noted that, given the already significant investment that Ohio companies and Ohio agriculture are putting into the development of affordable bio-based products, now is an ideal time for the state to make an investment in the clean production of renewable resources.
"We must build on Ohio's legendary ability to envision and develop new products," Gillmor said. "This bill will grow our already outstanding higher education system and further educate our citizens for higher wage jobs at a time when many skilled workers are out of work. In the inventive spirit of Thomas Edison, it is within our reach to make Ohio the ‘Bioproducts Center of the Nation.'"
About OSA
The Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a 25-member volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to uniting producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry.
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