[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E841-E842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE ENERGY PROBLEM AND ITS EFFECTS ON WEST VIRGINIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2001

  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise attention to the 
energy problem and how

[[Page E842]]

it is affecting people in the Second Congressional District of West 
Virginia. The recent energy crisis in California has become front-page 
news in papers throughout the country and rightfully so. Other regions 
are suffering too, though, and unless action is taken soon, the 
problems of Californians will become the problems of everyone. Evelyn 
P. Jones of Montrose, Randolph County, West Virginia, is a citizen in 
my district whose plight is particularly distressing. Her caring son, 
James A. Jones, who is the workers' compensation program manager for 
the Library of Congress, brought Evelyn's situation to my attention. I 
want to tell her story because I think that it is representative of 
others in my district and state as well as throughout the country.
  Evelyn Jones is a retiree living on a fixed income of $500 a month. 
She lives on the family farm and takes care of her 90-year-old sister. 
The rising cost of home heating oil has placed Mrs. Jones in a terrible 
financial quandary. Her heating oil bills from last September 12 
through March 3 totaled $1725.55. Fortunately for Evelyn, she has a 
close-knit family, many of whom live in nearby Elkins and help her buy 
food, medicine, and other necessities.
  Were it not for Evelyn's family, she would likely have to make the 
difficult decision of choosing between adequate heating, food, or 
medicine. I have little doubt that many citizens of a similar 
disposition do, in fact, have to make such decisions. Congress has 
provided some relief in the form of the Low Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program (LIHEAP). However, many citizens in need are either 
not eligible for this program or do not like the idea of government 
help. Clearly, a more comprehensive policy approach is needed to 
provide both short-term relief and long-term solutions to high prices 
and energy shortages.
  The Washington Post reports that gas prices have risen to a 
nationwide average of $1.68 per gallon of regular unleaded. The Energy 
Department has estimated that the cost this summer will range from 
$1.50 to $1.75, a five percent increase from last year. In some areas 
of the country, prices may reach $3.00 per gallon. The rising price of 
gasoline is representative of the rising prices of petroleum products 
in general. Certainly a great many causes factor into such prices. A 
decline in domestic production and infrastructure accompanied by an 
increase in demand has left the country ill prepared for the current 
struggles. Congress and the Bush Administration must be receptive to 
new ideas and solutions to correct the neglect of the past.
  The current energy situation was not created overnight and it will 
not be corrected easily. I look forward to working with my fellow 
members in the House of Representatives as well as the President and 
his administration to begin to solve this complex problem. The Evelyn 
P. Joneses of our country demand that effective action be taken soon.

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