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Letter of the Week - Rising Price of Gasoline

Every week, 2,000 - 3,000 Second District residents write to me about the issues pending before Congress, and I work hard to respond to each person as promptly and thoughtfully as possible. On my website's "Letter of the Week" blog, I highlight constituent letters that are of general interest. If you'd like to share your own views, please feel free to e-mail me at any time!

"With gasoline prices hovering at $3.00 per gallon, I am looking to you to pass legislation aimed at rising gasoline prices and our country's growing dependence on oil... A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report found that the average fuel economy for vehicle fleets in the U.S. had not improved in two decades. Transportation fuel accounts for approximately 40 percent of all U.S. oil consumption. Without legislation aimed at increasing fuel efficiency, our nation's dependence on foreign oil will continue to grow. Now is the time to use existing technology to raise the fuel efficiency of vehicles and to expand the number of options for consumers to conserve." -- Connie in Topeka

Dear Connie,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding your concern about rising gas prices.  I appreciate hearing your views on this issue.  I apologize for my delayed response, as my office is still fine-tuning our mail process.

The U.S. dependence on foreign oil is a relationship that can be summarized in one word: toxic.  It is toxic to our environment, it is toxic to our economy and it is toxic to our international relations.  The U.S. is dependant on foreign oil for 66% of our oil resources. This reliance on foreign oil is simply unacceptable.  In order to remedy this problem, first and foremost, we must break our foreign oil addiction and look within our own nation for additional energy sources.

There is an increasing demand for oil both in the U.S. and abroad.  Although Congress does not directly regulate the price of gasoline, we can take steps to curtail the skyrocketing prices.  One step we can take is to harvest our numerous alternative energy resources.  In the state of Kansas alone, we have an abundance of alternatives.  We have wind energy and bio-masses that we can harvest, we have increasingly efficient ethanol facilities and we have research taking place in our land-grant institutions, such as Kansas State, that can supply us with new infrastructure and developments that will steer us towards our ultimate goal—energy independence.   

Congress has already begun taking measures to address the cost of gas, because after all, with the increased need for energy during the hot summer months, gasoline prices are estimated to rise to a national average of over $3.00 a gallon.  However, there is very little that Congress can do to make an immediate change in gas prices.  All of the potential solutions are long term.  My colleagues and I are working on legislation that addresses our energy problems.  This legislation will work to: 
  •   Expand incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency;
  • Give our farmers the lead in reducing our dependence on foreign oil by promoting clean, locally-produced alternative fuels;
  • Bring new jobs to our towns through increased efficiency and added incentives to help consumers and small businesses reduce energy costs; and
  • Renew our national commitment to energy research and development for the next generation of high-risk, high-reward energy technologies. 
As a short-term solution, I have introduced H.R. 2480, the Gas Price Relief Act, which would eliminate the federal gas tax when the average national gas price exceeds $3.00. Consumers currently pay 18¢ extra per gallon. Elimination of this gas tax would translate into very real savings for consumers. However, we must also pay for the loss in revenue. Therefore, my bill calls for suspending one of the tax subsidies for Big Oil companies until the national gas price falls below $3.00 per gallon for six consecutive months.

I have also taken steps to hold Big Oil accountable by voting yes on H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act.  This bill repeals a handful of the most costly subsidies benefiting oil companies that are earning record profits.  I also voted for H.R. 1252, the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act.  This act makes it unlawful for anyone to sell oil at an excessive or unnecessarily high price. 

Thank you again for contacting me. I hope you will continue to keep in touch and let me know whenever I may be of assistance.


Rep. Boyda's signature
Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress