Our legislators in Washington, DC are planning to adjourn for their 5-week vacation without taking up legislation to help American families who are struggling with record high gas prices. Today, the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization is issuing a Call to Action to the United States Congress to take up this urgent legislative matter before leaving for the summer.

Oil prices are putting basic commodities farther and farther from the reach of the working poor and the poor who rely upon government assistance for necessities. People of lesser means – lower and middle income – who are so impacted by the rising cost of oil can no longer afford to do all of the things that need to be done for their lives and for their families. The rising cost of oil is affecting the cost heating, cooking, driving, maintaining a family - - and Latino people’s lives here in New York, in Puerto Rico, in Santo Domingo, and throughout Latin America are seriously impacted by this global crisis.

Rents are increasing and people are being priced out of their homes right here in New York. Families on fixed incomes and working people are having to resort to food pantries, which are fewer and fewer to find. Many people who used to travel by car have resorted to public transportation – only to find that the fares may be raised and that transportation services remain, for the most part, unimproved. People who frequently travel to visit their family members in Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo will be affected by the rising prices of fuel for air flights. There will be fewer flights, and more charges. Whatever these rising costs may be, they will continue to come down to the consumer.

Wealthy people may continue to go about their lives unchanged. People in the money market whose system causes the oil prices to go up will continue to prosper. Index speculators for giant oil companies like Exxon and Mobile, while speculating and driving up the price of oil, must realize that they are putting the lives of Latino families in danger. They are playing our lives – with our children’s lives – with our relatives’ lives. They are playing with our future.

We will not turn our backs to those who suffer the consequences of greed and indifference of the fat cats from American oil companies. We implore oil companies like Exxon and Mobile and their index speculators to realize the pain and end the injustice they are causing in our society. We will continue to bear witness to the suffering of the needy – especially those whose suffering is caused by those who have, and we will continue to protest the growing poverty that faces too many families in New York and in Latin America. Our Members of Congress must not delay this matter until the fall. We implore them all to remain in Session until this matter is resolved.