April 2012 5th District Energy Tour
ROBERT HURT 5TH DISTRICT ENERGY TOUR
Week of April 2, 2012
Robert was glad to get back to the district this week and talk to constituents across Central and Southside Virginia. You are invited to follow Robert in the District over the next two weeks on Facebook and Twitter as we will be making regular updates with pictures from the tour. Check out his pages to see if you’re in any pictures!
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012: Pittsylvania County - Chatham, Java, and Grit
Robert kicked off his District Work Week with a series of morning radio interviews. He spoke with Bobcat Country, WVHL, WFLO, and WBTM to discuss major issues that are impacting 5th District Virginians and the action the House of Representatives has taken to address the great challenges our country faces. Robert discussed The Preserving Rural Resources Act – a bipartisan bill he introduced last week that would preserve our famers and small businesses as the economic engine of Virginia’s 5th District and protect them from the negative impact of further federal government over-reach. Additionally, the legislation will allow our farmers to shift their time and resources from wading through abundant and costly government bureaucracy to expanding production and creating jobs in Central and Southside Virginia. Robert also spoke about the House-passed Fiscal Year 2013 budget – a plan of action that is about putting our trust in American citizens, not in government and about preserving this great country for future generations. The House budget plan puts an end to empty promises from a bankrupt government and is the only plan that has been offered that makes a good faith effort to address a national debt that threatens our future. Lastly, Robert discussed rising gas prices and the toll it is taking on 5th District Virginians, and the devastating effects they are having on every aspect of our economy. Gas prices have nearly doubled in the past four years, and you only have to look at the prices at the pumps right now to see the consequences of the President’s failure to enact a sensible energy policy.
Following radio interviews, Robert stopped at VanDerHyde Dairy Farms in Chatham where he was able to learn about how dairy farms are innovating for the future, addressing our energy crisis, and generating energy from what used to be waste. There he was able to speak with WDBJ and WSET about his district tour this week and what he’s been hearing from 5th District Virginians. In addition, Robert spoke with the Danville Register & Bee about energy, you can read the story here.
Following the tour of VanDerHyde Dairy, Robert went on a three-hour tour with Virginia loggers in Pittsylvania County. While on that tour, he visited Gregory’s Sawmill, Brad Rice Logging, and Hurt Power – which uses woodscraps from the logging industry in order to generate electric in Pittsylvania County. Hurt Power is one of the largest wood chip energy plants this side of the Mississippi and produces renewable energy for Southside Virginia. The loggers were able to give Robert a first-hand look at their operation and discuss how rising gas prices are crippling their industry – from the fuel used to log to delivering their product, fuel prices affect all parts of their industry. While the lack of a sensible energy policy can be felt across our district, the loggers gave Robert a first-hand look at how this has led to many sawmill and lumber plants shutting their doors because they cannot afford to continue to fuel their equipment, and how it has also led to many lost jobs. The lumber tour provided a very real look at the negative effects of rising gas prices and was a firm reminder of how important it is to put forth commonsense policies that help make it easier for small businesses succeed, not harder. The News & Advance reported on the effects of high fuel costs for local loggers - you can read the article here.
Check back tomorrow for an update on Robert’s trip to Bedford and Buckingham. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter and check his blog post here.
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012: Bedford and Buckingham
Robert began his day in Bedford meeting with families and representatives from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. There, he met Anna Graham, a young girl who has been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. Dawning her tiara, Anna shared her story, providing insight into her day-to-day life with the disease. She also shared her recent accomplishments of winning a miss pre-teen contest and her singing talent.
Later in the morning, Robert stopped by Bedford Memorial Hospital. At Bedford Memorial, Robert met with the administration and discussed health care in the context of reducing federal health care spending. The hospital, built in the 1930’s, has served Bedford County for generations.
Following his visit to the hospital, Robert attended a luncheon at Shakers in Lynchburg. Attended by local elected officials, the luncheon was a great opportunity for Robert to hear more about pressing issues in Central and Southside Virginia at a staple and great locally owned business that has served Southside for over 25 years.
Next, Robert stopped by Buckingham Branch Railroad in Dillwyn. The railroad is a family-owned short line railroad that operates 275 miles of railroad in central Virginia. It was founded in 1988 by Robert and Annie Bryant and ran its first train on March 6, 1989. Since then it has grown from a 17 mile line with two employees to its current size today of 275 miles with 88 employees.
Lastly, Robert dropped by Dillwyn Pharmacy to talk with local residents. Here, Robert heard from those who filled prescriptions and those who depended on them. From the small business owner who owns Dillwyn Pharmacy and has served the community for decades, to the patron grabbing a coke, to the seniors stopping by to pick up their refills, Robert enjoyed meeting with many good people in Dillwyn and was appreciative of them sharing their concerns as their stories allow him to better represent them as he heads back to Washington.
A gracious thank you to all of those who took the time to talk with us, show us around your facilities, and spend time with us over the past two days. It was a wonderful way to start Robert’s two weeks touring the district, and he looks forward to continuing on to Greene, Albemarle, Charlottesville, and Fluvanna tomorrow.
Thursday, April 5th: Greene, Albemarle, Charlottesville, And Fluvanna
Robert began his day by visiting a local business in Ruckersville, Mountain Lumber Company, to tour their facilities and listen to their concerns.
Following his visit with in Ruckersville, Robert stopped by Snow’s Garden in Charlottesville. He was able to visit with the Snow's and their customers during the stop and discuss how rising fuel prices have had an impact on their business and their families. Snow's is celebrating their 100th year anniversary this month - the business has been in the family for four generations and represents a staple in Charlottesville. The Snows provide trees, shrubs, landscaping, and maintenance in Charlottesville and surrounding areas. To say the business is feeling the extremely negative effects of rising gas prices would be an understatement. Duane Snow discussed the adjustments he has had to make to combat the drastic rise in energy prices. Robert also spoke with NBC 29 and discussed how Washington must act now to reduce energy prices so that people like Duane and like our other family businesses across the 5th District will be able to stay afloat in this economy and continue passing their businesses down to the next generation just as they had it passed down from their parents.
Following Snow's Garden, Robert toured Forest Pro and Tapscott Brothers Logging in Fluvanna. Like the stories from the Pittsylvania County loggers, the Tapscott brothers reemphasized the devastating effects rising energy costs are having on their operation. They took Robert to a logging site where they discussed how rising fuel prices have caused their fuel costs to double since 2009 and the price of products made with petroleum- like the tires used on their logging equipment - to skyrocket. They mentioned that one tire on a piece of their equipment now costs them over $5000- they need at least 2 tires for each piece of equipment. Not to mention their fleet of trucks they need to transport the logs - where one truck costs them over $1000 to fill up is causing a great deal of stress in the industry. This is a very real example of what a lack of a sensible energy policy can do to our small business owners - it is no wonder that the people of the 5th district have demanded a sensible energy policy like what Robert is fighting for in Washington- one that increases production at home by putting an end to the job-crushing permitorium and facilitating for use of domestic energy.
Robert will be back on the road next week to continue visiting with citizens across the 5th District. Be sure to check out Facebook and Twitter, as we have been posting photos from events throughout the week.
Week of April 9, 2012
Tuesday, April 10th: Crozet
Robert stopped by Yancey Lumber Mill
Wednesday, April 11th: Henry County and Danville
Robert spoke with Danville, Pittsylvania, and Halifax elected officials at Mary’s Diner in Danville
Thursday, April 12th: Prince Edward County
Friday, April 13th: Hosted a breakfast for Charlottesville, Albemarle, Nelson, Greene, and Fluvanna elected officials and visite Agnor-Hurt Elementary School in Charlottesville
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A sincere thanks to all of those throughout the district who took the time to meet with us this past week. Your concerns will guide me as we work to address the challenges we face in Washington. -Robert Hurt