American families could see relief at the gas pump before the midterm elections if one House conservative has his way.
Rep. Andy Harris, the Maryland Republican who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, is pushing to force a vote on legislation that would suspend the federal gas tax through the end of 2026. The bill, introduced Tuesday, would eliminate the 18.4 cents per gallon tax on gasoline and the 24.4 cents per gallon tax on diesel that Americans currently pay every time they fill up.
“Families and truckers need some immediate relief from the high cost of fuel to drive to work or haul goods across this country,” Harris told the Daily Signal. “It’s time right now to temporarily suspend the federal gas and diesel tax until the end of the year. Hardworking American taxpayers deserve that break.”
The timing is critical. The House is expected to wrap up votes before the end of the week and then recess until after the midterm elections. That means if Republican leadership doesn’t bring the bill to the floor in the coming days, relief won’t come until lawmakers return.
Harris’ office told The Daily Signal it remains optimistic the legislation will receive a floor vote, though House Republican leadership has not confirmed whether the bill will make it to the calendar before members head home to campaign.
The congressman isn’t going it alone. His office indicated that fellow conservative lawmakers are working to build support and push leadership to schedule a vote. The Freedom Caucus has proven effective in the past at pressuring House leadership when its members unite around a cause.
For truckers hauling goods across the nation’s highways, the diesel tax cut would provide even greater savings. At 24.4 cents per gallon, the diesel tax hits the commercial transportation industry hard, and those costs inevitably get passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices on everything from groceries to building materials.
The push comes as gas prices remain a top concern for voters across the country. For many working families, the cost of filling up the tank directly impacts decisions about everything from commuting to work to visiting family members in other states.
