**Watch Sen. Cantwell’s speech here.**

Read the full letter here

Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to demand President Trump take action on rising gas prices in advance of summer driving season.

“This weekend is the start of the driving season, and the average American household will pay $167 more in fuel costs this summer,” said Senator Cantwell during the event. “That is sticker shock to the American family, what they are seeing could get worse, and that is why we are calling on President Trump to act.” 

During the event, Senator Cantwell announced a letter to Trump calling on him to lead and relieve the cost to families at the pump. “Use all of your authority to take timely action to pressure the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and cooperating countries to increase world oil supplies in order to lower prices at the pump during the upcoming summer driving season,” the letter states, which was also signed by Senators Schumer, Menendez and Markey.

“The impact of rising fuel prices on our economy and on family budgets is significant and widespread,” write the Senators in the letter. “According to a recent analysis by Goldman Sachs, the run up in oil prices will roughly cancel out positive effects from tax cuts this year, with the greatest impact on households that can least afford it.”

Read the full letter here.

Watch video of the press conference here.

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