Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) hosted a joint forum to hear from Americans across the country about how President Joe Biden's catastrophic energy policies are hurting their businesses and paychecks. Hot Springs native Greg Bates, owner and operator of Greg Bates Logging testified on the effects of skyrocketing energy costs on his business.
"Gas prices affect daily life of Americans and small businesses across the country," Westerman said. "We are hearing stories of people who are nearly unable to afford their drive to work. Rolling blackouts have been projected across huge areas of the country – for instance, the Midwestern energy grid is short the power needed for 3.7 million homes...Unless there is a major shift, I fear the situation will just keep getting worse. We are here today to hear from our constituents about the challenges they are facing due to this crisis. Congress should be talking about real solutions every day until our constituents see some relief, and that is what we intend to do."
"During the entire year of 2021, we spent $74,000 in fuel for the equipment and the trucks," Bates said. "This year from January to June 16, we have already spent $125,000 in fuel and we are only halfway through the year. So instead of spending $6,175 a week in fuel, we are now having to spend $14,650 a week. That is an increase of 59 percent in fuel cost. The logger has no way to pass this cost on to anyone, and we have no way to recuperate this loss. We are at the mercy of the mills and what rates they are paying. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when the sawmills were making record profits due to the increased price of lumber, the Arkansas logger did not see a penny increase in the rate for the wood harvested."
Watch the full forum here.
Background
The panel of Republican members invited witnesses from their districts to testify during the forum.
Greg Bates, owner and operator, Greg Bates Logging
Josh Akridge, owner, Hen Ridge Dirtworks
Steve Benson, president, Planters Hay Inc.
Charles Cuny, superintendent, Little Wound School
Ron Gibson, president, Utah Farm Bureau
Heath Haywood, truck driver and city councilman, Malin, Ore.
Gary Henderson, president and CEO, United Way of Denton County, Texas
Cynthia Johnson, president, Montana Farm Bureau Association
Andy Juris, vice president, Washington Wheat Growers
Tim Kordula, instructor and administrator, Karl's Transport
Tim Soignet, sheriff, Terrebonne Parish, La.
State Rep. John Vanderwoude, District 22, Idaho
Jim Weakley, president, Lake Carriers Association
Timothy Welbaum, owner, Visiting Angels South Central Michigan
Original source can be found here.
