Republican leaders in Congress on Thursday sought to respond to growing national anger over the rising price of petrol, promising a series of measures they hope will bring down prices and prevent the situation from causing further political damage.

“Americans are unfairly being asked to empty their wallets at the gas pump,” said Bill Frist, majority leader in the Senate, who on Thursday led a group of Republicans in offering a package of eight proposals, including a $100 (€80.46, £56) “gas tax holiday rebate cheque”, intended to ease the burden higher fuel costs have imposed on consumers.