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When I gassed up my car this morning, I paid $3.60 a gallon and I was grateful.

Just a few weeks ago, gas here in Hazleton was over $4.10 a gallon. In other parts of the 11^th Congressional District, it topped $4.20 a gallon.

And now that the average price has dipped a couple dozen cents below the $4-a-gallon mark nationwide, millions of people – me included – are breathing a sigh of relief.

The more I think about that, the more disappointed I am – not that the price has fallen, but that Americans and our elected leaders are more likely to become complacent about America’s energy future again.

Two months ago, the price of gasoline climbed almost every day – and so did the anger of the American public. I heard the rumors (“Four and a quarter by the Fourth of July!” “Five dollars by Labor Day!”) and I figured that, finally, Congress would act.

A month ago, that anger continued. We here in the Northeast began looking ahead to winter, and the rumors of $6-a-gallon heating oil began circulating.

Congress, we all said, would have to take action. We’re not just talking about people having to change their commuting and shopping habits. We’re talking about people potentially freezing to death.

But we were wrong. Boy, were we wrong.

Rather than vote on a comprehensive energy plan that would secure our long-term stability, Congress voted to take five weeks off. At a time when hardworking Americans cannot afford to go on vacation, Congress gave itself a five-week vacation.

To me, that’s irresponsible and inexcusable. Maybe if members of Congress had to pay for their own gasoline – rather than having taxpayers foot the bill – they’d work harder to find a solution.

We need a real plan to solve our energy crisis.

First, we need to drill – right here, right now. Send a message to the rest of the world that the United States of America will produce its own oil over the next decade and beyond. We shouldn’t have to send our president to the Middle East to beg for increased oil production – and we shouldn’t send $700 billion a year there, either.

We also need to find solutions that are appropriate for different parts of the country. In northeastern Pennsylvania, we’re sitting on millions of tons of coal. Our old coal mines can provide geothermal sources. Wind that streams over our ridgetops and hills could be harnessed to provide power. In other parts of the country, consumers could use tides to generate electricity, or solar farms, or other locally plentiful resources.

There are so many choices that will help the United States of America become energy independent over the long term.

Elected leaders have been talking about energy independence for more than half my life. Now is our chance. We can make it happen.

Instead, Congress chooses to go on vacation.

And now, with the price at the pump falling, I hope the leaders who have been pushing for new legislation don’t lose the will to create and pass a comprehensive energy plan – and I hope the American people don’t let Congress off the hook about it.

That would be the real disappointment.