Senator Hassan Leads Efforts to Lower Gas Prices for Granite Staters

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan led her colleagues in introducing legislation to lower high gas prices by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year, bringing much-needed economic relief to families across New Hampshire.

See below for excerpts of coverage highlights:

AP: Senators Call For Gas Tax Suspension To Blunt Rising Prices

Some Democratic senators on Wednesday called for suspending the federal gas tax for the remainder of the year to help consumers struggling with rising fuel prices.

The legislation from Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire could prove popular during an election year in which the average price of gas nationally, according to AAA, exceeds about $3.45 a gallon and could go higher during peak driving season.

[…]“We need to continue to think creatively about how we can find new ways to bring down costs, and this bill would do exactly that, making a tangible difference for workers and families,” Hassan said.

The bill also would require the Treasury Department to monitor whether oil and gas companies are passing along the savings to consumers and encourages the department’s secretary to take enforcement actions to ensure they do.

WMUR Coverage of Senator Hassan’s Bill

See below for the transcript of WMUR’s coverage of Senator Hassan’s Gas Prices Relief Act:

Tom Griffith: Senator Maggie Hassan wants to suspend the federal gas tax for the rest of the year. Her bill filed today would save drivers 18 cents a gallon. Inflation has become a big issue recently. Senator Hassan says finding a way to help balance budgets for Granite Staters is important right now.

Senator Hassan: Taking these measures in the short term while we also go after some of the supply chain challenges we've seen that is one of the drivers of inflation is just common sense.

Tom Griffith: The bill would require the federal government to transfer money into the highway trust fund to make up for lost gas taxes.

Fox Business: Democrats propose temporary suspension of federal gas tax to offset soaring prices

Megan Henney

Two Democratic senators on Wednesday unveiled a proposal to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax in order to help blunt the financial pain of surging prices at the pump.

The Gas Prices Relief Act, introduced by Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, would eliminate the federal gas – which has remained at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993 – for the remainder of the year. Although four other Democrats signed onto the bill, it still faces an uphill battle in the 50-50 Senate.

"People are feeling a real pinch on everyday goods, and we must do more to help address rising costs, particularly the price of gas," Hassan said in a statement. "We need to continue to think creatively about how we can find new ways to bring down costs, and this bill would do exactly that, making a tangible difference for workers and families."

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