Jay Rockefeller: “we all know the cost of gasoline has been increasing very dramatically and the people of my State, a very rural State…”

“we all know the cost of gasoline has been increasing very dramatically and the people of my State, a very rural State, have to travel very long distances. There is little public transportation in rural counties, and as a result they have to use their cars and have to, therefore, buy a lot of gas. Today I am introducing legislation to give temporary help to those who need it most, particularly low-income families, workers, seniors, and, frankly, students who have to drive long distances each day to get to their work, their school, and to critical health care. In West Virginia prices of gas have gone up, as they have everywhere. In the North and South they have gone up by a great deal. People suffer because of that. I know high prices affect everyone when it comes to gas, but they do hit lower income people in the most painful way. When you are already struggling to pay the cost of housing and the cost of education or whatever it might be, the cost of gas aggregated over a period of time becomes a very painful item. As I indicated, if you are in a rural area, your problem is much worse because there is not public transportation. This is a very crucial fact. It means you have to use your automobile. It means you have to buy the gas to put in the automobile. I support the development of long-term energy policies and hope we will do that in a wise way. But for those who pay their living expenses day to day, that will not come soon enough.”