(RALEIGH) -- Gas prices are higher by almost $1 a gallon compared to a year ago, and North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan says she hears about the high price of gas everywhere she goes in the state.

"[The cost of gas] is incredibly important to our working families, our seniors, and especially our small business owners here in North Carolina."

In response, Hagan sent a letter to the White House urging the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group to report their recommendations to Congress before the July 4th holiday.

"If there is some action the we in Congress can take, we have time to do that before the July Fourth holiday when so many Americans hit the road."

Part of the problem regarding the skyrocketing cost for a gallon of fuel is the speculation of future oil prices on Wall Street.  Sen. Hagan says alternative energy is one of the answers to the problem.

"We need to be investing in more renewable energy research. And part of the Wall Street reform package that [Congress] passed last year included provisions to make sure that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has the ability to protect consumers from speculation that might drive up the price of oil."

The White House working group on the problem was formed recently, and comes as President Obama is under increasing pressure to take action to address rising gas prices, even though U.S. policymakers can do very little to lower prices at the pump.