WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky today joined Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Bart Stupak (D-MI), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL), and Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) for a press conference to emphasize how rising energy prices are affecting states and regions across the nation. Heating bills are expected to increase at the highest rate in the Midwest this winter due to an anticipated 61% increase in the price of natural gas. As the winter heating season approaches, the gas to 30,000 Chicago households remains shut-off, and over 100,000 Illinoisans have already applied for energy assistance in the past month.

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky delivered the following statement:

“Midwesterners have every reason to be frightened, truly frightened, about their heating bills this winter.

“Last week, Rep. Bobby Rush and I hosted a hearing in Chicago on natural gas prices at which state and local officials, the gas utility companies and the American Gas Association testified.

“Their testimony validated those fears.  The Midwest, where 75% of households heat with natural gas, is expected to see an increase of 61% in their bills.  In Chicago, the average family will pay $1475 to heat their homes this winter.

“This is not just a crisis for poor people.  In bungalows across the Chicago area, families are already struggling to put gas in their cars, pay for health insurance, meet their mortgage payment and keep up with rising heating bills that have quadrupled already since 2001. 

“The gas companies are prohibited from shutting off the heat during the winter, but the City of Chicago testified that 30,000 households already are disconnected and there is no requirement that they be reconnected.  The utilities said they would work with their customers, lowering reconnection fees and deposits, but will they be able to help all the people like Diane Bennett.  She works in customer assistance at a bank, has missed work because of poor health, is struggling to pay heating bills from the last few years and owes $2,800.  She was shut off in July. 

“At a ‘winter assistance day’ in Bobby Rush’s southside Chicago district, 4,000 Chicagoans showed up to apply for assistance through the LIHEAP program.  They arrived as early as 4:40 am for an event scheduled to begin at 10 am.  LIHEAP typically runs out of money well before the Spring.  With bills so high, what will happen this year?

“The City of Chicago is preparing warming centers for people to go to and that is important.  But, I ask you – is this what America has come to?  Opening up stadiums and other public buildings so our citizens can stay warm in the winter?   Are images reminiscent of Katrina victims going to become the order of the day – routine responses to predictable situations like cold Chicago winters?

“We have to do better.  We can act today to soften the blow by fully funding and expanding LIHEAP, preventing natural gas price manipulation and gouging, and providing weatherization assistance to more Americans.  The House has squandered many opportunities to address this impending crisis by passing energy bills that do nothing to bring down the price of natural gas.  We must change course.  We must not leave millions of Americans in the cold this winter while energy companies are left with money to burn.”

Congresswoman Schakowsky joins Senator Kerry and Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz to talk about rising home heating costs.