[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 126 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7568-S7569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, in mid-June, I asked Idahoans to share with 
me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded 
by the hundreds. The stories, numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking 
and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail 
sent to me through [email protected] to the Congressional 
Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is 
one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve 
to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet 
everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to 
what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that 
last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have today's letters 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       I am a widow with a disabled child. Our family lives on 
     social security payments and what I make as a substitute 
     teacher. My son's condition requires frequent trips to the 
     doctor both in Idaho Falls and to Salt Lake City. The rising 
     cost of gas has significantly impacted our ability to travel.
       The cost of electricity is another issue that affects us 
     each month. As electricity costs rise our discretionary 
     income, already limited, becomes less.
       These problems, in combination with the rising cost of 
     other services dependent on transportation, have put our 
     family in an increasingly desperate situation. The future 
     does not look good from where we sit!
     Kary.
                                  ____

       We are 70 years old and active seniors on a fixed income. 
     Energy costs are becoming a burden for us and we will begin 
     to go into our reserves for future years. Gas prices are 
     obviously a problem but the cost of groceries is also a big 
     item. We have one car and my husband rides a bicycle as much 
     as possible. I walk to places when destinations are close 
     enough. We are concerned about being good stewards of our 
     environment and do what we can, e.g., recycling, using less 
     gas, using fans instead of an air conditioner when practical, 
     raising some of our own food, planting trees on our property, 
     and conserving water.
       We are disgusted that we are the victims of bogus global 
     warming fanatics, environmentalists, and opportunists. 
     Ethanol, which has not been proven to be efficient or good 
     for engines, is using up corn that was used for food and 
     livestock feed thus raising food costs.
       There are reserves in our own soil that could be used. 
     Other countries are drilling off our shores so why can't we 
     drill since this would not create any more risk than is 
     already present? Nuclear energy is a good, clean option and 
     there are some plants already built but not in use.
     Allen and Jane, Nampa.
                                  ____

       What is there to say? Energy costs simply make it harder to 
     get by. There is less money for the extra things we enjoy 
     doing and with a new baby on the way there will be less money 
     to set aside to take care of him. As a student of economics, 
     I realize there are many factors that are contributing to the 
     increase gas prices. The recent reckless policies of the 
     Federal Reserve have caused incredible inflation and a 
     weakening dollar. There needs to be more competition in the 
     energy sector, massive deregulation as well as ending 
     government subsidies for the alternative energy sources the 
     government, not scientists or businesses, deem best--[these 
     are] drawing resources away from other potential alternate 
     energy sources.
       Expanding domestic oil production and other clean energy 
     sources like nuclear power would also help, as increased 
     competition helps drive down prices.
     Verl.
                                  ____

       Thank you for allowing me to share a few of my views on the 
     current energy and fuel challenges facing the United States 
     and the entire world population, and how my family is coping.
       First, and most importantly, the solution cannot be found 
     in building more nuclear plants. Nuclear facilities that use 
     old technology, construction methods, placed in areas of 
     social or natural upheaval, and that generate radioactive 
     refuse that cannot be safely managed, must never be 
     considered. The recent earthquakes world-wide, coupled with 
     terrorist use of ``dirty'' bombs are two very real 
     considerations when contemplating nuclear energy.
       However, I would consider the research and development of 
     Thorium nuclear energy (creates and uses all of its 
     radioactive byproduct).
       Second, and equally important, should be the emphasis on 
     solar for almost every power/energy application. There should 
     be a requirement that all new construction utilize solar 
     heating and cooling, hot-water tanks; southern facing 
     buildings and homes; and the retro-fitting of homes for the 
     elderly and low-income with solar energy products should be 
     part all social service projects. Automobiles should 
     certainly be manufactured utilizing some form of solar power.
       Third, conservation. Conservation can take many avenues 
     from lowering the speed limit to 55 mph again, to cutting 
     back to the shorter work week and longer work day (schools 
     can also be conducted on a four day basis saving heating/
     cooling, electricity, busing, commuting, etc.) After reading 
     about the impact rising fuel costs are having on the U.S. 
     Postal Service, perhaps it is time to curtail Saturday mail 
     delivery to homes and businesses. Special delivery on a 
     Saturday can be done, for an additional fee, by such 
     companies as UPS or Fed-Ex.
       My husband and I are baby-boomers and will soon be feeling 
     the reality of a fixed income. He is retired and on Social 
     Security (just received his Medicare card), and I am working 
     for the school district (low wage as a paraprofessional 
     working with Title I reading students). Rising prices at the 
     grocery stores are certainly having an effect on our ability 
     to eat healthy foods, and the rising cost of our co-pay for 
     drugs and medical services is outrageous. We have just 
     refurbished our old bicycles (one is a 1965 Schwinn) as a way 
     to get around and exercise too. We practice the wise counsel 
     of our parents for living simply, and we continue to keep 
     informed/educated in matters of material and spiritual 
     importance.
       ``Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live 
     in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and 
     requirements.''--The Tabernacle of Unity, by Baha'u'llah.
       Thank you for your time.
     Carol, Post Falls.
                                  ____

       It is lovely to be hearing your solicitation for stories 
     regarding our current energy market. I live in Boise, and 
     have a 7 to 8 mile commute to work. To date, the higher gas 
     prices aren't directly affecting me too badly, because I do 
     use public transportation. I am disappointed that you are 
     willing to throw your hands up and say ``there is not public 
     transportation.'' There is. And if you do not work to 
     encourage people to use it, it will continue to be a mediocre 
     service. As prices are rising there is a huge new interest in 
     the bus in Boise--ridership on my route to work is easily up 
     50 percent this year compared to last.
       You are right, the bus is limited, there are far too few 
     routes, and the schedules are very sparse--I work a salaried 
     job and occasionally need to work late--the last bus to come 
     by my work place is at 6:30, and then with that, I will miss 
     the last bus to go from downtown the rest of the way home, 
     and have to walk a mile and a half home.
       However, I am excited at the current situation, because as 
     more people ride the bus, there's more chance for routes and 
     schedules to expand to make it even more useful. It would be 
     valuable to have your support to help scale our public 
     transit system to a level where people do not have the 
     excuses of ``it does not come close to my house,'' or ``but I 
     have to wait an hour for the next bus after buying my 
     groceries.''
     Michael, Boise.
                                  ____

       My husband and I are on a very limited budget, and so are 
     very careful to watch where our money goes. I am a graduate 
     student at Idaho State University, and have a 25 mile commute 
     to campus. If I do not have to be working in my lab, or 
     taking/teaching a class, I telecommute. With high-speed 
     internet and a cell phone, I can work at least as efficiently 
     from home, thus saving miles driven. I drive a 1995 Ford 
     Escort wagon with nearly 200,000 miles on her. I get over 40 
     miles to the gallon, and the recent increase in gas prices 
     has meant that it costs me approximately $30 to fill my tank 
     instead of $20. I combine shopping trips to reduce extra 
     mileage, and purchase many items online, since it is nearly 
     impossible for me to find what I need in Pocatello anyhow.
       In all, I am not concerned with the increased gas prices. I 
     have known for decades that it was inevitable, and believe 
     strongly in conservation for ethical reasons as well as 
     environmental reasons. I am very disappointed to see our 
     country continue to thwart the implementation of much-needed 
     conservation legislation, instead hiding behind talk of 
     exploring options at home. There is only one way to fix this 
     problem, to reduce demand. We have become a fat, bloated 
     nation unwilling to engage in the ideals of thriftiness and 
     invention that once made us [leaders], and now have us 
     falling behind the European and Asian nations like a spoiled 
     child.
       I urge you to embrace conservation legislation now, before 
     it becomes more painful for our nation.
                                         Pamela, Lava Hot Springs.

[[Page S7569]]

     
                                  ____
       Reserve natural gas for just home use. Do not allow it to 
     be used to fire generators or any other plants. Reserve it 
     for our future for our homes. There is plenty of coal for 
     that.
       You have got to figure out a way to override the liberals 
     and their agendas. They will destroy us and the whole world.
     Vera and Bob.
                                  ____

       Senator, are you sure your figures are correct? $50.00 per 
     month more is not very much; it is only equivalent to one 
     fill-up or less. . . .
       My story is that I live near Gibbonsville, Idaho, 30 miles 
     from the economically-depressed town of Salmon. Most of the 
     inhabitants of the area are on a fixed income and the gas 
     prices are crippling to the budget of many. I personally 
     drive to town only once a week now to teach piano lessons and 
     get groceries . . . I used to go more often and attend social 
     events as well. My husband works outside of the area as there 
     are few ways to make a living in this area. He drives 2 hours 
     to the nearest airport in Missoula, Montana and then flies to 
     his job, returning home every two weeks for 10 days. We know 
     of many others who travel to work outside of this area for 
     the same reason . . . no industry around here. My husband is 
     considering only coming home once every six weeks now, a 
     family hardship--or perhaps I will move away from the area 
     and join him. The increased cost of traveling has shrunk his 
     take home pay significantly. Obviously the huge increase in 
     the cost of gas is a hardship to any one in this type of 
     situation--and there are many, many people who travel to 
     support their families.
       Thanks for the chance to (hopefully) make a difference.
     Christine, Gibbonsville.
                                  ____

       It is time that all in the United States Senate and 
     Congress got on board of the Drill Here, Drill Now Program. I 
     hope that you are on board with this program.
     Vic, Gibbonsville.
                                  ____

       Gas prices affect almost every aspect of our lives. We 
     usually take a few trips a year to Utah to visit family, but 
     have limited ourselves to one this year. We will be sticking 
     close to home. Things like driving a half-hour to Rexburg we 
     used to not think anything about, but now we have to evaluate 
     all of our activities to see if it is worth the gas money to 
     participate. Raising young kids, it has been a priority for 
     me to stay home with them, but we are wondering if it will 
     always be possible with the rising cost of living. Please do 
     what you can to keep costs down!
       Sincerely,
     Julie, Ammon.
                                  ____

       The high energy prices are choking me!! Your liberal 
     colleagues are helping destroy our great nation!! All kinds 
     of oil available from our close neighbors like Canada and 
     Mexico!! Your friends in Washington, D.C. are wearing 
     blinders!! No new plants have been built in 24 years!! How 
     can you buck such stupidity? Good luck!
     James.
                                  ____

       We are retired and energy costs are a big item. A clear 
     majority of the American people approve of drilling in ANWR, 
     off-shore, oil shale, gasification from coal . . . all now! 
     Other countries like Norway, Brazil, Africa are going to 
     think twice about selling us oil when we won't drill for our 
     own reserves! Obviously nuclear, wind, water, etc., are 
     important but it has to be all of these efforts not a choice 
     of one or the other. Right now, we should start drilling . . 
     . Do not underestimate the frustration of the voters with 
     Congress.
       Thanks for listening.
     Bob and Jane, Hayden.
                                  ____

       We live in rural Gooding, Idaho. We are 35 miles from the 
     nearest department stores. My husband is an insurance agent 
     and has to travel to inspect the homes he insures and to 
     service all of his clients. We also build one or two homes a 
     year in a family partnership to help our children earn money 
     for college. Our children go to a university that is 250 
     miles away. Our married children live 150-200 miles away. 
     Driving long distances is a necessity and public 
     transportation is not an option. We would not use it if we 
     had it. We have to have our vehicles for our work. The ``city 
     dwellers'' in Congress apparently have no idea how much we 
     depend on and need our trucks and cars. We need our lawmakers 
     and the environmentalists to get out of the way and let the 
     big oil companies do what they do best, drill for and refine 
     oil. In the midst of the presidential debates of the recent 
     months, we hear a lot of empty rhetoric coming from 
     Washington and elsewhere. I want to hear from the realists 
     who believe in the phrase I have been hearing on Talk Radio: 
     ``Drill here, drill now, pay less.'' I want my $2 a gallon 
     (or less) gasoline back and I do not want to hear that it is 
     not possible. It is possible, and we want the Senate and 
     House to get some guts and tell the environmentalist whackos 
     that we are all done playing their games! Conservation is not 
     the answer. Alternative fuels are not the answer. More 
     domestic production is the answer. I am just an average 
     citizen and I know what needs done. What ever happened to 
     common sense?
       Thanks for asking for my opinion. Not that it will do any 
     good, but I had to try.
     Deby, Gooding.
                                  ____

       We are just your ``average'' Idaho family. Mom and Dad both 
     work and we have four children. We used to have a few dollars 
     left after bills every month to just barely take care of the 
     extra things that pop up--scout camp, new shoes for the kids, 
     medical bills, a birthday gift . . . That is not the case 
     anymore. Not only do we spend more a month on gasoline, we 
     are also spending more on groceries and household items 
     because prices on those have also increased due to energy 
     cost increases. I used to be able to feed my family on a 
     certain budget amount every month. Now, we are dipping into 
     other budgets just to put enough food on the table. The 
     ``other budgets'' are monies we used to use to pay medical 
     bills and other expenses. One can imagine what is happening 
     to those items and obligations now.
       We have planted a huge garden in hopes of using it to help 
     take the edge off some of our grocery expenses but that won't 
     take care of everything. Children need shoes. Medical bills 
     have to get paid. You cannot buy shoes or pay bills with 
     veggies from your garden. We live too far away from our jobs 
     to ride bikes and one of us works until midnight, making it 
     unsafe to ride a bike home anyway.
       We just keep hoping that our government will see that the 
     ``average'' family is suffering and that they will do 
     something about it. Perhaps nothing will get done until it 
     hits their homes as hard as it has hit the ``average'' 
     family. Sad commentary on the state of things in America 
     though, because there are more ``average'' families out there 
     than there are wealthy families and/or those who are 
     benefiting from the high oil prices. So, more people are 
     suffering than are not and it does not feel like our 
     government cares. Something can and must be done.
       When it is said that families are suffering, that means 
     children are suffering--and children should not be made to 
     suffer because of someone else's greed.
     Gayle, Ammon.
                                  ____

       My husband and I are fearful of how rising oil prices will 
     affect our family and all those around us. If it was just an 
     increase in our personal gasoline usage we might be able to 
     get by. However, it goes so far beyond that, affecting the 
     cost of everything else used in our lives. We already see 
     food prices going up, and expect to see everything else 
     follow suit. Most families like ours are on a tight budget 
     and have started to look at what to give up to continue to 
     pay all the bills. We now wonder if prices continue to climb 
     much further if it will cost us the eventual loss of our home 
     to foreclosure.
       We see the domino effect on how oil prices touch most 
     aspects of our lives. When everyone starts cutting back, so 
     will the need for as many employees. Thus, will high prices 
     and high unemployment lead us into another depression? Is the 
     United States of America, as the world leader in strength and 
     independence, a thing of the past? Will our children grow up, 
     like so many in other countries, longing to leave and seek 
     residence elsewhere? We fear the feeling of hopelessness and 
     it is spread throughout our nation. Is it too late?
       We will continue to pray for our government and the 
     decisions it makes. Thank you for your time.
     Barbara, Emmett.
                                  ____

       As you know the price of everything has risen because of 
     the tremendous cost of transportation. Those of us on a 
     ``fixed'' income are really suffering. Let us utilize our own 
     oil fields. Bring our troops home; this will decrease our 
     need for oil . . . Our tax money is needed at home! Thank you 
     for your time.
     Rodger, Lewiston.

                          ____________________