Chet Thompson

From AFPM, ACC and ACD: When it comes to its proposed merger with Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific seems increasingly intent on monopolizing not only the nation's freight rail system, but the debate over whether the deal is good for America. UP executives have attacked trade associations for speaking out against the merger, arguing that because the railroad does not directly serve our organizations, we should not have a voice in the debate. They have it backwards. We don't serve Union Pacific. We serve our members.

In a tight refined product market it has been U.S. refiners that have stepped up. Our industry ran full-out for most of 2022 making sure American consumers, our domestic economic centers and our allies had enough gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to keep everyone moving. Our refining sector leads the world in liquid fuel production and is effectively doing more than any other to bring better balance to the global market.

Vehicle efficiency is not a partisan issue. Every driver wants cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks. They also want them to be affordable, safe and family friendly. Fuel-powered internal combustion engine vehicles offer a range of options that satisfy these criteria, and they’re getting better every year.

The U.S. is home to the most efficient and sustainable refining sector in the world, bolstering American energy security, supporting millions of well-paying jobs, and reliably providing the fuels the world needs to run. U.S. refiners have made major investments to continuously reduce the emissions of products and operations.

A 15-year rise in U.S. exports of refined products continued in 2019 with our nation exporting more than ever, underscoring the importance of these products to fueling a growing world. 

In the last ten years the fracking revolution has led to amazing growth and vastly increased energy security for the United States.

The U.S. refining sector is a steadfast economic engine, supporting more than 2 million jobs and providing the affordable, reliable fuels on which America runs — the gasoline and diesel that take us to work and our kids to school, supply heavy construction equipment and enable first responders, and even power tractors on the farm.

In recent weeks, President Trump returned to Iowa to court U.S. farmers ahead of the official launch of his reelection campaign and to sign his much-anticipated rulemaking allowing year-round sales of E15, an unlawful action that the U.S. refining industry is challenging in court.

One of America’s major strengths when it comes to the economy and global trade is our petrochemical industry, which produces the building blocks used in manufacturing supply chains across the globe.