It's not a secret. Gas prices are out of control and reached a historic high this Memorial Day weekend, the official start of summer drive season. It's time for Congress to do something meaningful to control gas prices by requiring our cars, light trucks and SUVs to go further on a gallon of gasoline. But the powerful auto industry continues to stand in the way of miles per gallon standards.

Congress hasn't increased fuel efficiency standards since 1975 and after decades of inaction, it's time to get America moving with more fuel efficient vehicles. The debate is heating up in Congress and support for increasing fuel standards has a lot of momentum. But the auto industry, big oil and their army of lobbyists have shifted into high gear to oppose new fuel efficiency standards that will save us money on gasoline.

The average household is going to shell out more than $3,200 this year on gas. An average fuel efficiency standard of 35 miles per gallon will save a typical family more than $500 annually.

Tell the auto industry to stop standing in the way of efforts to increase fuel efficiency standards that will save American families money at the pump.

Dear Mr. McCurdy:

I'm writing to ask the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to stop standing in the way of higher fuel efficiency standards for cars, light trucks and SUVs. As a consumer I want more fuel efficient vehicle choices because it will save my family money at the pump and decrease our dependence on foreign oil, thereby increasing our national security. Frankly, I'm tired of the auto industry's alarmist predictions claiming higher fuel efficiency isn't achievable and will bankrupt manufacturers. These misguided and misleading attempts are the same excuses the industry used when it opposed safety glass and air bags for vehicles.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, increasing fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles to a fleet-wide average of 35 miles per gallon (mpg) can be achieved using current technology and without sacrificing power or safety. As you know, fuel efficiency standards for cars, light trucks and SUVs have not been increased since 1975. These standards remain at 27.5 mpg for cars and 22.7 mpg for light trucks. Raising fuel efficiency standards to an average of 35 mpg over the next 10 years will save 27 billion gallons of gasoline per year. At current gas prices, that amounts to $86.94 billion dollars saved at the pump.

A report recently released by the U.S. House and Senate Joint Economic Committee estimates that the average American household with children will spend nearly $3,200 on gasoline this year. If fuel efficiency standards are increased to an average of 35 mpg household gas savings would range from $460 to more than $1,000 per year, depending on the family's size and vehicles. According to the report the average annual household gas savings would equal $536.

Perhaps the auto industry should stop spending millions of dollars advertising about what it doesn't want to do and invest that money in what American consumers want; our cars, light trucks and SUVs to get more out of a gallon of gas.

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Thank you for your time.