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El Monte, Calif. - Today, Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (CA-32) sponsored a senior awareness forum designed to provide senior citizens with vital consumer utility resource programs, along with advice on safety and preventive measures for preparing for emergency situations.

“I understand that many of my constituents who rely on a fixed income like Social Security face challenges when it comes to paying for gas and electricity,” said Congresswoman Solis. “I helped lead the fight to protect consumers from price gouging and cosponsored H.R. 3936, the Federal Response to Energy Emergencies Act that has been blocked by Republicans in Congress. But this type of forum empowers seniors with local solutions to paying your energy bills now.”

Participants learned about a variety of energy efficiency and low-income assistance programs, including Medical Baseline and California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE).

Speakers included Hugo Gonzalez and Helen Romero Shaw, Southern California Gas Company, Anna Frutos-Sanchez, Southern California Edison, and Sally Ceniceros, National Council on Aging.

According to reports, it is estimated that an average family using heating oil will pay $1568.00 which is $611.00 more than last year. And those of us that use natural gas for heating and cooking will pay $1,568 which is $611.00 more than last year. Yet, family income has dropped every year since President Bush took office for a total loss of $1,658 since 2000.