Mohamed Bughrara

On Thursday, June 16th, the United States House of Representatives passed the “Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act.” Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat representing Virginia’s 7th congressional district, was the driving force behind the bill’s passage in the House. 

This new package of legislation tries to combat inflation at grocery stores and gas stations. Moreover, the act aims to reform pieces of the meatpacking sector, makeE-15 biofuel cheaper and more easily accessible, as well as slash fertilizer prices for farmers.

All nine of Pennsylvania’s Republican delegation voted against the Lower Food & Fuel Costs Act, as gas and grocery costs continue to rise in Pennsylvania and across the country. 

Below is a breakdown of how the Pennsylvania representatives voted on the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act:

Yay

• Brendan F. Boyle (D-Philadelphia) Yea
  • Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) Yea
  • Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) Yea
  • Michael F. Doyle (D-Allegheny) Yea
  • Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) Yea
  • Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) Yea
  • Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) Yea
  • Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) Yea
  • Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) Yea
  • Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) Yea

Nay

• John Joyce (R-Blair) Nay
  • Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Nay
  • Mike Kelly (R-Butler) Nay
  • Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) Nay
  • Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) Nay
  • Scott Perry (R-York) Nay
  • Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) Nay
  • Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) Nay
  • Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) Nay

The national average for gas prices reached $5 per gallon on Friday, up from $3.28 per gallon in January. Meat, poultry, and fish prices have increased by about 15%, while dairy and associated items have increased by more than 8%. Egg prices are up about 23 percent from a year ago. The bill package now heads to the US Senate.