Rep. Scholten Leads Letter Urging President Trump to Address Skyrocketing Energy Prices

WASHINGTON, DC - This month, U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03) led a letter with her colleagues in the Lowering Costs Caucus urging President Trump to immediately address the energy affordability crisis straining household budgets across the country. The members highlighted how the Trump administration's policies, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) and chaotic tariffs, are driving these skyrocketing costs.

"More than 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills, resulting in a 30 percent rise in household utility debt in the U.S. The Administration's policies have exacerbated these economic pressures, with electricity prices rising faster than inflation and ballooning as much as 13 percent nationwide. Looking ahead, your signature domestic policy legislation, H.R. 1, will increase electricity prices by 61 percent over the next decade," the Representatives wrote in part.

"Families across our districts carefully plan their budgets between their mortgage or rent, grocery bills, retirement investments, and health care needs. When the energy market becomes unpredictable and costs increase, Americans are forced to make hard decisions to make ends meet," the Representatives continued. "Our constituents deserve not only to get by, but to thrive-that starts with ensuring critical markets have the certainty necessary to provide stable, low gas prices."

Rep. Scholten was joined by Reps. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), and Greg Landsman (D-OH-01).

The full text of the letter can be found below:

Dear President Trump,

We write as members of the Lowering Cost Caucus to urge your Administration to take immediate action to provide American consumers with relief from skyrocketing energy prices. Families across our districts carefully plan their budgets between their mortgage or rent, grocery bills, retirement investments, and health care needs. When the energy market becomes unpredictable and costs increase, Americans are forced to make hard decisions to make ends meet.

American families have been saddled with an energy affordability crisis. More than 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their utility bills, resulting in a 30 percent rise in household utility debt in the U.S. The Administration's policies have exacerbated these economic pressures, with electricity prices rising faster than inflation and ballooning as much as 13 percent nationwide. Looking ahead, your signature domestic policy legislation, H.R. 1, will increase electricity prices by 61 percent over the next decade.

In 2026, gas prices have soared more than 30 percent. The national average sits at $4 per gallon, up over a dollar since February. This is the most significant jump in gas prices in six decades. This reality-in conjunction with tariffs raising the cost of imported goods by nearly seven percent, and domestic goods by almost five percent-is untenable and places a significant strain on communities throughout the nation. In addition to rising prices at the pump, global market oil shortages have jacked up the price of jet fuel by over 14 percent compared to this time last year. Unsurprisingly, this has resulted in fewer flight options, increased fares, and other fees for Americans. This will inevitably limit our constituents from traveling for work or leisure, as well as being there for their loved ones during significant life events such as weddings or funerals. Our constituents deserve not only to get by, but to thrive-that starts with ensuring critical markets have the certainty necessary to provide stable, low gas prices.

We share the goal of lowering costs for all Americans, and that includes taking swift action to lower gas and energy prices. The Lowering Cost Caucus stands ready to work with our colleagues in Congress to bring immediate relief to families across the nation, and we encourage your Administration to support these efforts. Thank you for your time and attention to this pressing matter.

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