Tomorrow, June 24 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, the House Natural Resources Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans are hosting a forum on how rising energy prices are impacting American households and businesses. Members will hear from witnesses across the country who are experiencing the impacts of rising energy prices firsthand and discuss solutions to address skyrocketing costs. You can watch the forum live here. 

The House Resources Committee found compelling the story of Alliance Advisory Committee Member Steve Benson (CALIFORNIA), whose farm has been greatly impacted by rising energy and other input costs. He states in his testimony that, “It now costs more to ship vegetables across the United States than the cost to grow.” He continues, “Our region grows 90% of the nation’s winter vegetables. It is not sustainable. Unfortunately, the public blames the grower, and not the rapidly rising energy prices.” 

Mr. Benson, a producer of winter vegetables and hay/seed crops in the Imperial Valley, states in his testimony, “in today’s rapidly changing environment, everyone is scrambling, looking for ways to stretch water supplies and meet production budgets in light of rising costs for fuel, fertilizer, labor and raw inputs.”

Mr. Benson is a producer of winter vegetables and hay/seed crops in the Imperial Valley.  

“Farmers and ranchers throughout the West are facing similar challenges,” said Mr. Benson. “To make matters worse, we are still dealing with a severe drought along the Colorado River.” 

Mr. Benson’s written testimony can be found here. We encourage you to watch the hearing, read Steve’s testimony, and share it with your associates.