News

Pickering’s Mississippi E-Memo
Congressman Chip Pickering
Tuesday – August 12, 2008 - #90
 

REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH AUGUST: House Republicans have continued to fight on the House Floor since the Democrat Majority adjourned for their 5-week vacation August 1st.  Each day Republicans are gathering on the House floor to demand Speaker Pelosi to immediately reconvene the House and vote on the American Energy Act.  
 
 


Where can you find the cheapest gas in your area? Check out this helpful site; updated daily, it will tell you where to save at the pump:
 
Cheapest gas in the Jackson area (www.jacksongasprices.com)
Cheapest gas in Mississippi  (www.mississippigasprices.com)
 
ENERGY FACTS:

·       The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that about 100 billion barrels of oil in-place resources, including undiscovered oil, underlies the North Slope of Alaska
·       Of the contiguous 48 states, 28 have a coastal boundary.  U.S. electric use data show that these same states use 78% of the nation’s electricity
·       The United States spends over 500 billion dollars annually on energy
·       Of the 7.7 million households in the United States that use heating oil to heat their homes, 5.3 million households or roughly 69% reside in the Northeast region of the country
·       Although more than 70 percent of the natural gas produced in the United States already comes from wells at 5,000 feet or deeper, only 7 percent comes from formations below 15,000 feet
·       More than 90 percent of the power plants to be built in the next 20 years will likely be fueled by natural gas
 


DOE LAUNCHES ENERGYSMART HOSPITALS: July 23, The U.S. Department of Energy announced the launch of the EnergySmart Hospitals initiative to increase the use of energy efficient technologies in hospitals across the United States.  The initiative has the potential to help hospitals identify opportunities to not only save millions in potential energy costs, but also reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  Last year, hospitals spent more than $5 billion on energy costs with more than 2.5 times the energy intensity and carbon dioxide emissions of commercial office buildings.  Unlike many other commercial buildings, hospitals must remain fully operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide services during power outages, natural disasters, and other events that would force other facilities to close.

PICKERING INTRODUCES SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST RESOLUTION: Thursday, July 24, Congressman Pickering along with Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA), introduced a concurrent resolution designating October as National Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month (HCON 393).  The resolution aims to raise awareness about the risk of SCA, improve the public’s ability to identify warning signs, encourage individuals to seek medical attention in a timely manner and promote the need for further research into the causes of this leading killer.
 
WAL-MART MAKES NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO BUY LOCAL:  Wal-Mart stores in Mississippi are sourcing fresh produce from local, in-state farms.  They have pledged to increase their locally grown fruit and vegetable selection:
 

• During FYE 2008, Wal-Mart spent more than $553 million in Mississippi for merchandise and services with 760 suppliers.  Wal-Mart supports 29,908 supplier jobs in the state
• Wal-Mart’s locally grown produce sourced in Mississippi includes: strawberries, corn, watermelons, bell peppers, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, athena cantaloupes, tomatoes, cabbage, watermelons, sweet potatoes, greens, broccoli and sweet onions.
• Wal-Mart is expanding its locally grown offerings in the state – and this year Mississippi grown sweet onions are being sold in 47 stores compared to zero last year.
  

1. Apply online at www.dtv2009.gov  (Download a coupon application here)
2. Mail the coupon application to:
   PO BOX 2000
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3. Fax the coupon application to: 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-888-388-4632)
   
4. Or, call the Coupon Program 24-hour hotline: 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009), TTY 1-877-530-2634
   

You can also visit www.dtvtransition.org  for more information.

CHIP PICKERING ONLINE NEWS:
DOE EnergySmart Hospitals (website)
Wal-Mart State by State (website)
Pickering Introduces Sudden Cardiac Arrest Resolution (Release: 7/24)
House GOP Real Energy Solutions (website)
Republicans Debate in the Dark (Human Events: 8/3)
No State Is More United - Bio lab hearing (Clarion Ledger: 8/6)
 
 
PICKERING STAFF:
Visit www.house.gov/pickering/policy to get office contact information.

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