{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://adriansmith.house.gov/rising-gas-prices-threaten-nebraska%E2%80%99s-economy", "Rising Gas Prices Threaten Nebraska\u2019s Economy", "2013-07-26", "2013", "2013-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Adrian Smith", "S001172", "adriansmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The price of gas is once again rising in Nebraska and across the nation.\u00a0 The average price of gasoline in our state now tops $3.60 per gallon, up more than 3 cents from last week. \u00a0The price of diesel has jumped to $3.80 per gallon.\u00a0 These increases not only cause more pain at the pump, but also hurt nearly every part of our economy by increasing transportation costs.\nAgriculture is the backbone of our economy in rural Nebraska. \u00a0Farmers and ranchers in the Third District have told me how spikes in the price of fuel increase the costs at every stage of production and ultimately hurt consumers.\u00a0 For example, a farmer in York County explained he uses up to two gallons of fuel per acre for tillage, a third of a gallon of fuel per acre to plant, and about two and a half gallons of fuel per acre to harvest.\u00a0 He also uses six diesel wells for irrigation, and must use even more fuel to fertilize his crops.\u00a0 With 1,500 acres of corn, a small uptick in the price of fuel can quickly add up \u2013 even before it is transported.\nThe same farmer says a 50 cent increase in the cost of diesel increases his transportation costs by 10 cents per mile.\u00a0 He averages 40,000 miles a year hauling corn.\u00a0 Ultimately, these increases will be paid by end-users such as livestock producers and consumers in the form of higher feed and food costs.\u00a0 The more hardworking families have to spend on food, fuel, and other essential expenses, the less money they keep from their paychecks to save or spend.\nAs gas prices go up, the cost of products continues to rise, especially those transported to port.\u00a0 This could make our agricultural exports less competitive in foreign markets, undermining the success of expanded international trade in recent years.\nDespite the serious threat rising gas prices pose to our economy, President Obama did not address this problem in a major speech on the economy this week \u2013 likely because the President\u2019s energy proposals would further increase the cost of fuel by limiting American energy production.\nWe are taking a different approach in the House of Representatives.\u00a0 We understand generating more American power and fuel from all sources would lower costs.\u00a0 We are working to enact an all-of-the-above strategy to utilize our vast domestic resources, reduce regulatory obstacles, and take advantage of new drilling techniques.\u00a0 This strategy could help make our nation energy independent, grow our economy, strengthen national security, and create jobs.\u00a0 Only then can we lessen the threat of high gas prices to our economy, and ease the pain at the pump.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://adriansmith.house.gov/rising-gas-prices-threaten-nebraska%E2%80%99s-economy"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7698428817093372, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}