[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 63 (Friday, April 12, 2024)] [House] [Page H2361] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] INFLATION IN CALIFORNIA (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, this week, the United States Congress' Joint Economic Committee released a report based on the consumer price index for March. They found that in my home State of California, the average household is paying $1,222 more per month to purchase the same goods and services since January 2021. Cumulatively, the average California household has spent $26,929 more due to inflation in that same period of time. Compared to January 2021, the average household in California spent $173 more per month on food. This is $25 more each month than just 1 year ago, a cumulative of $3,900 more in food costs since January 2021. The average household in California is spending $161 per month more in energy costs and $5,000 more out of their pockets since that period of time in January 2021. Shelter and housing has gone up $4,600 more since January 2021. What is the root cause of this? There are a couple of basic features. The cost of energy drives everything, and government spending has inflated. We have to stop. ____________________