House GOP Leaders Launch Online Survey for Schools, Teachers, Parents Impacted by Soaring Energy Costs
Boehner: “Few places are feeling the energy crisis more sharply and severely than our nation’s schools”
Washington,
Jul 30, 2008 -
As back-to-school season approaches, House Republicans – led by Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Education & Labor Committee Senior Republican Member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) – today launched an online survey to collect input from school officials, teachers, and parents impacted by surging prices for gasoline and other energy costs.
Housed on the Education & Labor Committee’s Republican website, at http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/energysurvey.shtml, this initiative will gather information and stories from school officials, teachers, families, and communities to further illustrate the consequences of Congress’ current inaction on energy reform.
“Firsthand input from school officials, teachers, and parents is critical to Congress taking decisive action to increase production of American energy and lower fuel costs,” said Boehner. “Across the country, Americans are being pummeled each and every time they fill up their gas tanks, and with fall and winter just around the corner, heating and other energy costs will begin to soar as well. Few places are feeling the energy crisis more sharply and severely than our nation’s schools.”
Since Democrats took control of Congress in January 2007, the energy crunch has been swift and severe. Gas prices have risen from an average of $2.33 per gallon on January 4, 2007, the first day of the Democratic Majority, $3.93 per gallon today, according to AAA. Diesel prices – particularly important for school transportation purposes – have risen from $2.44 per gallon to $4.71 per gallon today. Yesterday, USA Today reported, “Fuel and energy costs are rising so quickly for the USA’s public school districts that nearly one in seven is considering cutting back to four-day weeks this fall. One in four is considering limits on athletics and other extracurricular activities, and nearly one in three is eliminating teaching jobs.”
“Dire stories of America’s schools feeling the pain of the energy crisis were commonplace as last school year ended, and now they are becoming a fixture in the headlines once again as the new school year approaches,” Boehner concluded. “It’s important for Congress to communicate directly with education stakeholders from across the country to learn how they are coping with today’s soaring energy costs, and it’s important that we understand the consequences of Congress’ failure to vote on legislation that will lower fuel costs for American families, small businesses, and schools.”
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