Davids Calls On President Biden to Suspend Gas Tax Amid Global Energy Uncertainty

Statement

Today, as Russia continues its unjustified invasion of Ukraine and destabilizes the global energy market, Representative Sharice Davids called on President Biden to take immediate action to lower gas prices at home, including by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year, as she has proposed.

After voting for bipartisan sanctions against Russian oil, Davids urged the President to protect American consumers from uncertainty and rising prices during these extraordinary circumstances:

"Here at home, folks are already feeling the effects of this uncertainty, mainly in the form of rising prices at the gas pump. This comes as hardworking Kansans are also dealing with increased prices on groceries and medicine, further squeezing what was already a tight budget for many families.

I ask you to consider executive actions that would provide any immediate relief to these rising energy prices. Two immediate options include additional, and greater, releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and enacting a holiday on the federal fuel tax through the end of the year. We should also continue to negotiate with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to mitigate barriers to meeting -- and increasing -- their production quotas, while we maintain our own significant domestic energy production."

Davids also called for a renewed commitment to long-term energy and inflation solutions, urging the President to protect Kansans from being used for leverage by dictators in the future by investing in renewable and alternative fuels--a position shared by former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus--writing that, "This will help promote American energy independence, establish global leadership, and create good, union jobs here at home, including those in the Kansas wind sector."

Following Davids' calls to take action on rising gas prices last fall, President Biden released 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic National Reserve. Davids remains focused on concrete solutions to lower costs for Kansans and connect families with immediate relief, introducing legislation to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year, saving Kansans 18 cents per gallon at a time when gas prices are reaching new highs. She also launched a new resource guide on her website at davids.house.gov/lowercosts and continues to focus on long-term solutions, fixing supply chain issues that are contributing to inflation.

Source