MAGA-aligned U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA) on Tuesday accused fellow Republican Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) of blocking a Freedom Caucus bill. Higgins wrote on social media: “Establishment elitist Sam Graves… lifetime Heritage score of 69… just killed the Freedom Caucus bill that would have canceled the federal fuel tax for 3 months. Our intention was to bring the bill to the House floor tomorrow night. Man wants his taxes. And he was rude about it. Unbelievable. The swamp is fighting hard to come back.”
Establishment elitist Sam Graves… lifetime Heritage score of 69… just killed the Freedom Caucus bill that would have canceled the federal fuel tax for 3 months. Our intention was to bring the bill to the House floor tomorrow night. Man wants his taxes.
And he was rude about…— Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) September 16, 2026
House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) this week introduced legislation to temporarily suspend the federal gas and diesel tax through the end of 2026, to provide “immediate relief” to drivers, truckers, families, and small businesses. The current federal fuel tax rates are 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline, and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel.
Enough is enough.
Americans are paying more at the pump, and Washington shouldn’t be making it worse.
Today, I introduced a bill to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year and give hardworking taxpayers some immediate much-needed relief.
Let’s put my bill on… pic.twitter.com/nZBs5WQJWR
— Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) September 15, 2026
In June 2022, when the Biden administration proposed similar legislation after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Harris wrote: “Suspending the federal gas tax is just another Biden Administration stunt to distract from their self-inflicted crisis. We can lower gas prices by unleashing American energy production. ‘Drill, baby, drill’ worked the last time we had an energy crisis, and can work again.”
Suspending the federal gas tax is just another Biden Administration stunt to distract from their self-inflicted crisis. We can lower gas prices by unleashing American energy production.
“Drill, baby, drill” worked the last time we had an energy crisis, and can work again. https://t.co/mhDwsUnOzf
— Rep. Andy Harris, MD (@RepAndyHarrisMD) June 22, 2022
Rep. Harris is running for reelection against Democratic nominee Dan Schwartz, who said: “Americans have been struggling with high gas prices for years, and it’s turned into a crisis because of Trump’s war in Iran. Back in 2022, when federal gas tax relief was on the table, Rep. Harris called it ‘just another stunt.’ Now he’s taking credit for the exact same idea like it was his own. Must hit different when it’s objectively your own party’s fault that people are struggling to afford fuel at re-election time.”
Americans have been struggling with high gas prices for years, and it’s turned into a crisis because of Trump’s war in Iran. Back in 2022, when federal gas tax relief was on the table, Rep. Harris called it “just another stunt.” Now he’s taking credit for the exact same idea like… pic.twitter.com/RK0k9Yf5T0
— Dan Schwartz (@Schwartz4_MD1st) September 16, 2026
[NOTE: U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) announced in March that he is retiring and not running for re-election this year. He has endorsed the GOP nominee, conservative radio host Chris Stigall, to replace him in the traditionally red Missouri district.]