From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined five other Democratic governors today in asking congressional leadership to support federal legislation to provide relief for Americans facing rising gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax until the end of the year.

Alongside Governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Jared Polis of Colorado, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, Gov. Lujan Grisham urged congressional leaders to take swift action in support of The Gas Prices Relief Act, federal legislation that would alleviate the consumer cost of rising gas prices and save New Mexicans money at the pump, putting dollars back in consumers’ pockets for groceries, childcare, rent and more.

“At a time when people are directly impacted by rising prices on everyday goods, a federal gas tax holiday is a tool in the toolbox to reduce costs for Americans, and we urge you to give every consideration to this proposed legislation,” the governors wrote to congressional leadership.

The letter:

March 8, 2022

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Speaker of the House Majority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McCarthy, and Leader McConnell,

As Congress looks to relieve Americans of the financial stress caused by increased gas
prices amid international crises and rising inflation, we support federal legislation to
address rising gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax until the end of the year.
According to the American Automobile Association, the national average gas price in the
United States is $4.173, up more than a dollar from 2021. The Gas Prices Relief Act as
introduced in the House and Senate – H.R. 6787 and S. 3609 respectively – would alleviate
the consumer cost of rising gas prices while protecting the federal government’s capacity to
make infrastructure investments.

First, it saves Americans at the pump by suspending the federal gas tax for the rest of the
year. Money saved at the pump translates into dollars back in consumers’ pockets for
groceries, childcare, rent, and more.

But importantly, the legislation would also ensure the Highway Trust Fund stays solvent.
The bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Treasury to transfer general fund dollars to
replace the temporarily lost revenue of a halted federal gasoline excise tax. Furthermore,
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) dedicated an additional $118 billion to
the Highway Trust Fund, and the Trust Fund’s capacity to finance the construction and
maintenance of roads, bridges, and highways across the country would not be diminished
by the legislation. For these reasons and more, we know it is possible to invest in
infrastructure and also provide meaningful relief to consumers at the pump.

At a time when people are directly impacted by rising prices on everyday goods, a federal
gas tax holiday is a tool in the toolbox to reduce costs for Americans, and we urge you to
give every consideration to this proposed legislation.

Sincerely,

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, State of Michigan
Governor Jared Polis, State of Colorado
Governor Tim Walz, State of Minnesota
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, State of New Mexico
Governor Tom Wolf, State of Pennsylvania
Governor Tony Evers, State of Wisconsin