[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRESS SHOULD REPEAL THE GAS TAX TODAY

  (Mr. COLLINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, the lead story on most all newscasts today 
is about the high price of gasoline and fuel.
  In just the past 2 weeks, the price has risen 12 cents per gallon, 
with a national average today at $1.53 per gallon as compared to less 
than $1 one year ago. For the past two weeks the people at home have 
asked, what is Congress going to do about the high price of gasoline?
  Mr. Speaker, the only controlling factor the Congress has pertaining 
to the price of gas or fuel is the tax imposed by Congress. In 1993, 
the Congress increased the gas tax by 4.3 cents per gallon for deficit 
reduction. Today there is no deficit. Today Congress can repeal the 4.3 
cents gas tax and help with the cost of gas and fuel.
  Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the needs and the challenges of 
infrastructure, but the Congress must adjust its needs, the same as a 
family adjusts its budget to meet its needs.

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