Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement on the price per barrel of oil again hitting record levels at over $78.00/barrel today:

“Each time we pull up to the pump, we are reminded of the Bush Administration's failed policies, which have led to record gas prices.  Since President Bush took office in January 2001, the price of oil per barrel has more than doubled and now is almost $80 a barrel, but wages for the average American worker remain the same.”

“Unless the Bush Administration changes direction on their failed energy plan and their miserable foreign policy decisions, record-high gas prices and global uncertainty in the markets will unfortunately continue.”