In a letter to New York’s federal legislators, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara is calling for the suspension of the federal gas tax. With the price of gasoline on the rise, the New York State Legislature recently adopted a measure introduced by Santabarbara that will suspend the state gasoline tax beginning on June 1^st, saving New Yorkers 16 cents per gallon. Shortly after, the Schenectady County Legislature followed suit in April of this year, suspending their county gas taxes, saving residents another 8 cents per gallon. With the price of gas on the rise again, Santabarbara says it’s time to do the same in Washington DC. The move could save consumers another 18.4 cents per gallon at the pump. The cumulative impact would bring the savings to about 42 cents per gallon.

In the letter Santabarbara, who is a member of the New York State Assembly’s Energy Committee, wrote, “At 18.4 cents a gallon, suspending this additional tax could offer meaningful relief to working class families across the country … It could save a typical driver another $3 dollars each time they fill-up. It may seem like a small amount, but it adds up over time.”

Americans are now facing the highest gas costs in eight years and many states across the country have already or are working to rolling back their own gas taxes. However, the federal gas tax is something they cannot control, but it can have a significant cumulative impact when you consider the other measures now in place.

“After the challenges of the past two years, families deserve all the relief we can provide. While we have done our part here in New York, suspending the federal gas tax can have a greater impact and help working class families save more of their hard-earned money during this crisis,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara, who is a long-standing member of the State Assembly’s Energy Committee.

The letter is attached.