Statement of Caroline Sosinski, Westfield, New York

Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight
of the House Committee on Ways and Means

Field Hearing on Energy and Prices, Mayville, New York

March 5, 2001

Thank you Congressman Amo Houghton and Members of the Ways and Means Committee for coming to Chautauqua County and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you on the energy crisis.

I live in a small mobile home 12 x 82. I keep my thermostat on 60-65. Still my gas bill was $194.00 a month. On the budget plan I was paying $62.00 a month and was warm. Now I pay 99.00 a month and I am cold. I can not and will not pay such high prices. The raise we received in Social Security doesn't begin to cover the fuel raise. Then there are also all the other raises to consider; medicine, food, and Dr. bills.

I am a volunteer with the counties HEAP program and I see many of the seniors applying for Heap who have to choose whether to keep warm or eat well. Unfortunately either choice is not a healthy one. So many times I would suggest that they go for food stamps but they refuse, as they don't want to be shamed. Medications for some can run over $200.00 a month even with a prescription plan. There are some who have to forgo medicine they need in order pay fuel bills.

The really hard part for me is when I had to deny some one HEAP when I knew it was needed. If they are just a few pennies over income guidelines you have to deny them. They tell you how much they have to pay for medication and other essentials but because of governments rules it makes no difference. I believe it should make a difference and I believe you Amo Houghton and the other Congressman here today do also or you would not be here. But we need to help now.

While doing volunteer work in January a 90 year old lady was telling us she had a $800.00 gas bill. She didn't know how she was going to pay it. What do we do in America about someone like her? At her age she needs to keep warm, Even some one with arthritis (like me) feels the cold more than others and it effects our health.

I honestly do not feel there is any justification for raising prices so high. I may not understand business but I truly believe some one is making a big profit at our expense and it could be dangerous to some.

As my friend Mac McCoy, who is a senior advocate in our county said to me, there are many older people who will need the whole year to pay off this huge increase in their gas heating bills and it will set them back for a long time. But they go without to pay their bills because they are responsible citizens. So many of these people receive no assistance and are living on a restrictive fixed income.

For all of us living here in Chautauqua County (and through out our great country) who continue to work hard to pay our bills, I thank you for coming here today. I ask you to please let those in Washington know that America needs to find a solution to this problem now. Tomorrow is already too late for so many of our older citizens and that is very very sad.