AS GAS PRICES SURGE IN ROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES, SCHUMER DEMANDS AN END TO TRUMP’S RECKLESS IRAN WAR, ANNOUNCES HE WILL FORCE WEEKLY VOTES TO END WAR, AND CALLS ON NY HOUSE[...]

As Gas Skyrockets Over $4, And American Troops Remain In Harm's Way, NY House Republicans Refuse To Check Trump's Reckless War of Choice - Schumer, Standing With Local Vets And Families Struggling From Gas Prices, Says Enough Is Enough And Vows To Force Votes Every Week To End The War

New Report Shows American Families Have Paid $16 Billion More For Gas Since Trump Started War In Iran, Including $517+ Million In NY Alone

Schumer: Iran War Has Cost NYers Half A Billion At The Gas Pump - This Must Stop

Over 60 days into Trump's reckless war with Iran, with no end in sight, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer stood outside a gas station with Rochester-Finger Lakes families, veterans, and farmers slammed by higher prices to say enough is enough and demand an end to Trump's reckless and damaging war of choice. As the average price of gas surges to over $4 despite Trump's promise to lower costs, Schumer vowed to force votes every single week to stop the war and called on NY House Republicans to stand up for NY families paying the price for Trump's disastrous Iran war.

"As Trump continues his reckless war of choice in Iran, families here in the Rochester-Finger Lakes are paying the price at the gas pump and beyond. Gas prices just reached new highs and families are seeing no relief in sight, but Trump and Congressional Republicans don't seem to care about the pain American families are feeling at the pump," said Senator Schumer. "With gas costing over $4 a gallon, inflation climbing, tariffs hammering consumers with higher prices, and mortgage rates going up, the American people cannot afford Trump's disastrous war. Congress cannot simply sit on the sidelines while our brave servicemembers are risking their lives on the front lines and American taxpayers are shelling out tens of billions of dollars for an unnecessary foreign war. We will continue to force votes on our War Powers Resolution week after week after week to show the American people what side their representatives are on."

A new report from the Joint Economic Committee found that families in every state spent millions more on gasoline over the past month. In the first two months of the war, New Yorkers paid $517,229,794 more for gasoline compared to prices before the war. Trump originally campaigned on the promise to get the price of gasoline under $2 a gallon; instead, he has chosen to enter the U.S. into a conflict that is dramatically spiking costs, causing the average gas price in New York state to rise to more than $4 a gallon. Meanwhile, across America, cost inflation is ticking back up, and mortgage rates are rising again.

This is on top of the billions the war in Iran has already cost American taxpayers. In the first six days alone, the war cost American taxpayers $11.3 billion. The Pentagon estimates the war has cost $25 billion so far. The Trump administration has also requested the largest increase in defense spending since World War II, while gutting programs that American families rely on to care for their children, put food on the table, access healthcare, and more.

Schumer says American families are paying the price for a war they didn't choose-while Republicans refuse to lift a finger to stop it. And on the front lines, American servicemembers are being asked to risk their lives without a clear objective, without transparency, and without the backing of Congress. Schumer said that is not strength or leadership, that's a failure of responsibility.

Schumer vowed he will force a vote every week on a War Powers Resolution to rein in Trump's reckless military actions until the war ends. The senator said no president should take the country to war alone, and Congressional Republicans need to stand up to Trump and reassert Congress's authority on matters of war.

Schumer continued, "No president should ever take this country to war alone. Republicans know Trump's handling of this war has been a disaster. They see how much the American people are hurting right now. NY House Republicans need to do their jobs, stand up to Trump and stand up for their constituents who are paying the price for his war."

According to the report, families across the country are spending 37% more at the pump than they did since February 28, an increase by 2% in the past month, with the average price to fill up one tank reaching $146.74 for the top-selling pickup truck, $59.10 for the top-selling SUV, and $52.99 for the top-selling sedan. Overall, families across America are paying $16 billion more for gasoline compared to prices before Trump's war on Iran.

Charles Hippert, Air Force Veteran from Ontario County, said, "Veterans like me took an oath of office to serve and defend the Constitution, which rests the powers to make war with Congress - the branch of government closest to the American people - because nothing is more serious than sending Americans into war. That seriousness demands careful thought and planning, otherwise lives are placed at unnecessary risk on the battlefield, and Americans at home are left to deal with the financial toll of war, including at the gas pump. I appreciate Senator Schumer's efforts today on behalf of our troops and our community here at home."

Amanda Krenning, New York Farm Bureau Manager of County Farm Bureau Relations and Development said, "The higher fuel costs are creating a ripple effect across the farming community. It's costing more to gas up equipment to run local farms and dairies, and it's driving up the cost of fertilizer and thus the cost to produce our food and dairy. It's also creating a lot of future uncertainty and volatility that makes it difficult to absorb the unexpected spike in fuel costs that's now hitting right at the start of the growing season. We appreciate Senator Schumer's support to help address this uncertainty."

Local resident Rachel Brill said, "I have been negatively impacted by the increase in gas prices. I live in Rochester so I can be close to my family and commute 23 miles one way, 46 round trip, each day to work in Canandaigua. I have to fill up my tank every week, and the price has gone up over $10 per tank - now more, after this last 40¢ jump. Over the course of the month, this is more than $40 - previously another week's worth of gas. Along with the increased home heating prices, and grocery prices, I am less financially stable than I expected when I took this, my first professional job in my field, which requires a Master's degree."

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