(Washington, D.C.)–Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and Jim Langevin recently sent a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to seriously evaluate the short and long term steps needed to reduce gasoline prices.

According to AAA Southern New England, it costs $2.65 per gallon, on average, for Rhode Islanders to fill their tanks with regular gasoline. This sky-rocketing cost is a burden on low- and middle-income families and could become a burden to charitable and volunteer organizations such as Meals on Wheels, stated the letter.

"Gas prices have remained at record levels for more than three months. Consumers are being continually squeezed at the pump while the big oil companies reap record profits," said Kennedy. "Economists are also warning that rising gas prices could be new threat to the U.S. economy - boosting energy costs for industry, and airlines, as well as millions of drivers. If oil prices remain this high, as many experts fear, they could gradually erode the economic recovery."

According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the causes of this increase can be attributed to several factors, including increased world demand for crude oil, increased demand within the United States as economic growth has resumed, declining domestic refining capacity, and the continued violence in Iraq.

“The record rise in gas prices only reinforces the need for a long-term, balanced national energy policy that emphasizes an energy policy that is worthy of the 21st century,” said Langevin. “To reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil sources, Congress should appropriate sufficient funds for the development of domestic energy sources, including measures to increase the use of renewable energy resources and the use of emerging technologies that could increase energy efficiency and reduce overall energy consumption.”

Specifically, the letter encourages the Bush Administration to carefully examine what options, including the opening of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), are available to help those most in need right now. The letter also points out that reducing the nation's oil consumption through increased fuel efficiency standards must play a significant role in any long term plan to reduce gasoline prices.

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