Walz joins 5 governors in calling for suspension of federal gas tax

Gov. Tim Walz and other governors are calling on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Walz sent a letter Tuesday — with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf — asking congressional leaders to pass the Gas Prices Relief Act to suspend the federal gas tax.

RELATED: As war in Ukraine intensifies, US gasoline hits record $4.17

The U.S. Energy Information Administration lists the federal gas tax as 18.3 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon of diesel.

In their letter, the governors say the suspension of the federal tax would help address rising gas prices. The national average price of gas has jumped 55 cents in the past week, according to AAA.

“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 said in the letter.

Click here to read their full message.