{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397471", "Griffith, 60 Plus Association Discuss Harmful Impact of EPA Regs on Seniors", "2014-10-02", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) - Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) joined members of the 60 Plus Association, including its Founder and Chairman Jim Martin, at an event unveiling a new study by energy economist Gene Trisko that finds high electric and energy prices are disproportionately impacting senior citizens throughout the United States.\u00a0 Among the study\u2019s findings:\r\n \r\n    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations will increase electric prices at rates above the general rate of inflation.\r\n \r\n \r\n    The suite of new regulations EPA is now pursuing inevitably will lead to ever\u2010higher utility prices for America's elderly population, exceeding the modest cost\u2010of living (COLA) adjustments that many 65+ retirees depend upon just to keep up with inflationary pressures.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Energy costs are adversely impacting lower\u2010income seniors afflicted by health conditions, leading them to forego food for a day, reduce medical or dental care, and fail to pay utility bills (APPRISE, 2009).\r\n \r\nAfter the event, Griffith issued the following statement:\r\n\u201cI have sought and continue seeking answers from EPA officials about the impacts their burdensome regulations will have not only on jobs and the economy, but also the impacts these policies will have on the poor and elderly through increased heating and cooling prices.\u00a0 Based on their failure to answer my questions, it appears the risk to the health of people who might be unable to afford increased energy costs was not evaluated by the EPA in its endangerment finding for carbon dioxide.\u00a0 I am left to believe theirs is a callous disregard for seniors and others.\u201d\r\n\u201cI cannot fathom the Administration\u2019s refusal to acknowledge the impact these policies will have on electric reliability.\u00a0 I cannot fathom how this Administration can push through policies that raise energy costs while suggesting that funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and similar programs be cut.\u00a0 I cannot fathom the Administration\u2019s callous disregard for the impact these policies will have on the most vulnerable in our society.\u00a0 How will people needing this assistance that have had their energy costs increased by other policies from this Administration survive without these funds?\u201d\r\n\u201cThen-Senator Obama said in a 2008 editorial board meeting with the San Francisco Chronicle:\u00a0 \u2018When I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, you know, under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I\u2019m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it, whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.\u2019\u201d \u201cThis comment has always troubled me.\u00a0 When Obama said \u2018consumers,\u2019 he included you and me.\u00a0 He included the senior citizens worried sick about how they\u2019re going to cover the cost of food, medical bills, and yes, the light and heat bill each month.\u00a0 He included the single moms trying to hold down a job, raise children, and pay their bills \u2013 such as the bill to keep the lights and heat on.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe fight against these policies will \u2013 must \u2013 continue.\u00a0 American families deserve stability and security.\u00a0 The very consumers that President Obama\u2019s policies are going to cost money are the middle class Americans seeking certainty and trying to get by in this stagnant economy.\u00a0 And these consumers are among those people I must continue fighting for.\u201d\r\nThe study is attached.\r\nRelated content:\r\n2.9.11 VIDEO: Griffith Questions EPA Administrator Jackson about Impact of Regs on Americans' Health & Safety - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TueV3xWNEcA&list=UUzxqD7EY_Rdvbc0spbaYkJA \r\n2.8.12 VIDEO: Griffith Discusses with EPA Official McCarthy the Impact of Regulations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKdKN2G-x28&list=UUzxqD7EY_Rdvbc0spbaYkJA \r\n6.29.2012 VIDEO: Griffith Discusses with EPA Official the Harmful Impact of EPA Regulations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOdkUawk1vM&list=UUzxqD7EY_Rdvbc0spbaYkJA \r\n6.29.2014 VIDEO: Griffith Grills EPA Official McCabe About Legality Of New Power Plant Regs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43jlKRe1Qao&list=UUzxqD7EY_Rdvbc0spbaYkJA \r\n###", 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://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397471"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0784710757434368, "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"}