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Alliance Resolution to Hold Down Energy Costs
Tuesday, June 17, 2008(Alliance for Retired Americans)
Resolution
Holding Down Energy
Costs
Adopted June 17, 2008
Whereas commodity price increases have placed a disproportionate burden on older Americans who are on fixed incomes; and
Whereas gasoline prices now average more than $4 per gallon, a 267 percent increase since 2001; and
Whereas the five largest
oil and companies have made more than $600
billion in profits
since 2001; and
Whereas speculation and
price gouging in the energy markets have
further exacerbated
rising energy costs;
and
Whereas the prices of home
heating fuels such as oil and natural gas as
well as the cost of
electricity have rising
dramatically during the past year, with
prospects of still more increases to come;
and
Whereas rising energy costs
have helped substantially increase the price of
food, increasing
hardships for older
Americans and low-income people of every age;
and
Whereas many senior
services programs are losing volunteers because
of rising gasoline
prices; and
Whereas many seniors are losing services such as home delivery of meals and home visits, which have allowed them to remain in their homes.
Therefore, be it resolved
that the Alliance for Retired Americans calls
upon Congress, to
enact legislation promptly
to:
· Tax the windfall profits of oil and energy
companies; and
· Fund the Low Income Heating
Energy Assistance Program at the authorized
level of $5.1 billion; and
· Permit federal
regulatory agencies to increase margin levels
on energy commodity trading, and
· Make it
illegal for foreign states to engage in energy
cartels; and
· Suspend the acquisition of
petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve.