Boyle Statement on Trump’s Support for Suspending Gas Tax

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), author of the Gas Price Relief Act, released the following statement in response to reports that President Trump has backed a suspension of the federal gas tax:

“Suspending the gas tax requires President Trump to work with Congress. That is exactly why I introduced the Gas Price Relief Act weeks ago.

If Trump is serious about reversing the gas price hikes caused by his Iran war, he should support my bill and end this disastrous conflict.

My commonsense legislation would suspend the federal gas tax whenever prices rise above $4 per gallon. We must also ensure the National Highway Trust Fund, which is funded by gas tax revenues, is not left bankrupt. My bill fully offsets any lost revenue by ending wasteful taxpayer subsidies for big oil and gas companies.”

H.R. 8600, the Gas Price Relief Act, would suspend the 18.4-cent federal gas tax whenever the national average price of gas exceeds $4 per gallon, reducing or eliminating the tax depending on how high prices rise to provide immediate relief at the pump. To avoid a funding gap in the Highway Trust Fund, it would fully offset the lost revenue by redirecting billions in existing federal subsidies currently going to oil and gas companies into the fund.

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