[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 157 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2153-E2154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        STATEMENT ON GAS PRICES AND ENERGY IN THE 14TH DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL FOSTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 29, 2008

  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I am submitting this statement to record 
my strong and enthusiastic support for achieving independence from 
foreign oil, continuing our work in moving forward on comprehensive 
energy policy reform, and finding new alternatives to develop cheap, 
clean, and renewable energy. Recently, the House of Representatives 
passed a bipartisan, comprehensive energy bill, which I had the honor 
of supporting. But when it comes to providing more solutions to 
overcome our energy crisis, there is still much more to be done.
  Earlier this month, on Labor Day, I met with constituents from 
Illinois' 14th District at the DeKalb Oasis on Ronald Reagan Memorial 
Tollway to hear what they had to say about how gas prices and our 
current energy policy affected them.
  While passing the Passing the Comprehensive American Energy Security 
and Consumer Protection Act was an excellent first step, I firmly 
believe that we need more relief from high gas prices, and we need a 
comprehensive energy policy overhaul that provides solutions for the 
short, medium, and long term. As statements from my constituents show, 
I am not alone in this concern.
  Much of what I heard was familiar. They told me gas prices are too 
much and are spiraling out of control. They told me they are forced to 
make new, tough choices as consumers on groceries, transportation, and 
the other costs of daily life. They told me while they try to cut their 
spending, there is almost nothing left to cut. They told me that 
because of gas prices they have to work more at a second job, or the 
business that employs them can no longer do so because business costs 
are increasing as well.
  I am entering some of what I heard on Labor Day into the 
Congressional Record not because the testimony I heard is a surprise, 
but because it is a wake-up call. We need more bipartisan solutions, 
and need them now. We cannot afford to wait. I have repeatedly shown my 
support for solutions that increase supply, and decrease demand while 
also pursuing research and development of clean, affordable, 
alternative energy sources that would make our Nation energy 
independent. These are solutions I supported when I voted for the 
Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act, and 
these are solutions I firmly believe we should continue to pursue.
  Here are some things I heard from constituent about how gas and 
energy prices are affecting them.
  ``How are gas prices affecting my family? Well, first of all I am an 
educator who could not afford to have a family, not even years ago . . 
. I have a full-time job, and I now have three part-time jobs so I can 
pay all my bills. I cut back on travel expenses, which is one expense I 
could control. I am working more hours at one of my part-time jobs. I 
never forgot lesson taught by President Carter--I keep my house in the 
60s during the winter and 80 degrees in the summer. I do everything I 
can to keep the house insulated in the summer and winter. I cut back on 
eating out and on food expenses in general, but not to the point of 
knowingly putting my health at risk by eating cheaper, but fatty 
foods.''--Kay, DeKalb, IL
  ``I actually have a car at home, well kind of I paid for half of the 
vehicle. My sister was driving it while I was here at school, and now 
that my sister has gone away to college my parents are just taking us 
off the insurance. They're just keeping the car in the garage,'' 
Amanda, of DeKalb, IL, explained to me.
  I asked her why she left her car unused. She said it was an expense 
she could not afford.
  ``My parents don't think I'd be able to maintain working and paying 
for the high prices of gas, but you know everything with having to 
maintain repairs, whatever need be but that gets really expensive so we 
just thought it would be better off not doing anything.''
  Amanda was not alone in finding that gas prices and college-related 
costs very limiting. Gas prices restricted her roommate's options in 
commuting as well as compounding other expenses like the cost of school 
and raising a family.
  ``It's just shopping and whatever, I would like to go home. NIU is 
nicknamed the suitcase school because so many kids just come for the 
week and then they go home, but I don't have the ability to do that, I 
can't go back and work all the time because everything is expensive,'' 
Hillary, DeKalb, IL, said.
  Hillary pointed out another common sentiment is not just the cost 
increase of gas prices, but also the speed at which they increased.
  ``It's kind of a gradual thing of course; our economy being in the 
status that it is right now and with gas prices rising. It's like 
everything is happening at once,'' Hillary continued. ``My tuition has 
gone up and Northern was actually the only school I could afford, even 
though I'm

[[Page E2154]]

a veteran. This is the only school that I could afford, and then on top 
of that, it's like tuition is rising. My mom is a single mom with a 
bunch of kids, with gas prices and everything--it's hard.''
  I am proud to submit the concerns of my constituents into the 
Congressional Record for all to see, hear, and recognize.

                          ____________________