WASHINGTON – Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) led the entire California Republican congressional delegation in urging Governor Gavin Newsom to suspend the state’s upcoming gas tax increase on July 1, 2024. According to Triple A, the national average price for a gallon of gas is $3.60, but in California, the average price is $5.13 per gallon. 

“Governor Newsom has failed to provide relief at the pump for hard-working Californians struggling with rising costs,” said Congressman Valadao. “My constituents are already paying the highest gas prices in the country, and the fact that our prices are about to go up even more because of the state’s policies is unacceptable. I am once again urging the Governor to suspend the gas tax to lower prices for Central Valley families.”

For the last two years, Rep. Valadao has led efforts to suspend the annual July 1^st gas tax increase to provide much-needed relief to middle class California families struggling with inflation. The lawmakers also raised their concerns over a recent report from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that signals gas prices are expected to rise by 47 cents per gallon in 2025 due to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard reforms.

Congressman Valadao was joined in the letter by Reps. Ken Calvert (CA-41), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Young Kim (CA-40), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Tom McClintock (CA-05), Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Michelle Steel (CA-45), John Duarte (CA-13), Mike Garcia (CA- 27), and Darrell Issa (CA-48).

Read the full text of the letter here or below:

Dear Governor Newsom,

We are extremely concerned with two upcoming gas price increases that will impact all Californians. In September 2023, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reported that gas prices are expected to rise by 47 cents per gallon next year due to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard reforms. This increase does not include the existing gas tax, which is expected to increase gas prices by nearly 60 cents on July 1^st. Together, this more than one dollar increase will come at a time when the people of California are already grappling with the high cost of living in our state.

For the past two years, we have urged you to suspend the gas tax, given the ongoing challenges faced by Californians that are forced to choose between filling their gas tanks and putting food on the table. Our concerns have continued to be ignored while Californians suffer the consequences. According to AAA’s state gas price averages, California leads the nation in gas prices at $5.26 per gallon for regular gas, which is already 45 cents higher than the next closest state. Adding another dollar to these already exorbitant prices will be disastrous for California residents.

With the cost of goods continuing to rise across the board, we must act now to pursue all avenues of relief for California families. We urge you to immediately suspend increases to California’s excise tax on gasoline and to work with CARB to ensure that Californians do not suffer unnecessarily.

Sincerely,