A Letter to President Biden from the California Problem Solvers Caucus

June 22, 2022

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden

President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden,

We write to you with serious concerns about rising gas prices and urge you to support suspending the federal gas tax. Our constituents are paying the highest gas prices in the country. As the country’s average gas price nears $5 a gallon, hard-working California residents are paying more than $6 per gallon on average.

As we enter summer, Californians are likely to face even higher prices at the pump. Every summer, our gas stations are required to switch to supplying summer-grade gasoline, which is more expensive to produce and to purchase. Additionally, consumers across the country are grappling with skyrocketing inflation, which according to the Consumer Price Index reached 8.6% in May.

Furthermore, with global demand levels remaining constant, crude oil prices are unlikely to significantly decline in the foreseeable future absent more production. As a result of all of these factors, too many people are forced to choose between filling up their tanks and buying groceries or paying off their credit cards. Nobody should have to choose between purchasing fuel to get to work on time or having enough to eat each day.

We fully recognize that suspending the federal gas tax is not a silver bullet. But in combination with many of the other ways our state is pursuing relief—the suspension of the state gas and diesel tax, the increase of domestic oil production, the suspension of summer blend requirements, and direct rebate payments—the federal gas tax suspension will be a great help to struggling families in California and across the country.

We urge you to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline and bring relief to California residents who have been grappling with record inflation, increased cost of goods, and the highest gasoline prices in the country.

Sincerely,

SUZETTE MARTINEZ VALLADARES

Assemblymember, 38th District

HEATH FLORA

Assemblymember, 12th District

ADAM GRAY

Assemblymember, 21st District

MARIE WALDRON

Assemblymember, 75th District

JORDAN CUNNINGHAM

Assemblymember, 35th District

TIMOTHY GRAYSON

Assemblymember, 14th District