Amid Skyrocketing Prices, Pappas Introduces Legislation to Suspend Gas Tax and Lower Costs at the Pump
The legislation is being led by Senator Mark Kelly in the Senate, and Pappas will introduce the House version later this week
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) is introducing the Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026, which would suspend the federal gas tax through October 1, 2026 and provide Americans with badly-needed relief from the historic increase in gas prices as a result of this administration’s actions. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gasoline has increased over 21% in the last week, now averaging $3.47 per gallon.
“As Granite Staters continue to grapple with high costs on groceries, housing, and health care thanks to this administration, the last thing they need is to pay even higher prices at the gas pump as a result of Donald Trump’s war in Iran,” said Congressman Pappas. “That is why I’m introducing legislation in the House to suspend the gas tax through October 1, 2026, and provide Americans with badly-needed relief from the historic increase in gas prices we have seen in just the last few days. The legislation would also hold oil companies accountable if they refuse to pass these savings along to consumers. I am grateful to Senator Kelly for leading this critical effort in the Senate, and I remain committed to using every resource available to bring down costs and ensure that families and small businesses are not paying the price for this administration’s reckless actions.”
The Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026 suspends the 18.4 cents per gallon gasoline tax, safeguards and maintains funding for our roads and bridges and gas spill remediation, and holds oil and gas producers accountable if they fail to pass along the benefits of this tax reduction to consumers.
In 2022, Congressman Pappas co-sponsored the Gas Prices Relief Act to suspend the gas tax and led the fight to hold corporations accountable for price gouging and driving up costs for New Hampshire families. In January, he introduced a package of legislation to lower energy costs for Granite Staters and keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans.