The four House members from Arkansas on Thursday called for congressional hearings into the high cost of diesel fuel that is harming top trucking firms in the state.The written request to top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee comes as diesel prices hover near a record $4 per gallon.
The prices adversely effect the U.S. economy, said 1st District Rep. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, 2nd District Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, 3rd District Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, and 4th District Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott.
High fuel prices are forcing trucking companies out of business, lawmakers said. The group expects the high cost of shipping goods to be passed along to consumers.
"As businesses across the country are forced to absorb the cost of surging diesel prices, it can be expected that the burden will ultimately fall on the consumer," the lawmakers wrote. " ... It is imperative that Congress examine the ripple effects caused by record high diesel fuel prices."
The delegation's action follows a March decision by the Arkansas Trucking Association to press for congressional hearings on the impact of high diesel prices.
The trucking association represents 84,000 Arkansans and more than 300 corporations. They include J.B. Hunt Transport Services, ABF Freight System and USA Truck.
The association maintains that diesel prices continue to increase despite ample supply and no significant rise in demand.
Lawmakers said they want an investigation into the cause of high-priced diesel fuel.
The letter was sent to Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee; Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., chairman of an investigations subcommittee on that panel; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.
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