[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H1235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FEDERAL EXCISE TAX IS BURDENSOME

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, the Federal excise tax is a 12 percent 
surcharge on the price of new heavy duty trucks, truck chassis, 
trailers, and semitrailers used for highway haulage. It was first 
instituted more than a century ago to pay for World War I for the 
wartime mobilization.
  The FET is the highest percentage excise tax on anything in this 
country. The tax has really outlived its original purpose, unless you 
like spending. It disincentivizes truckers and trucking companies from 
purchasing new up-to-date rigs because the tax can add as many as 
$20,000 to even $30,000 on a high-end rig by itself, just for the tax.
  Ever-increasing Federal and State emissions regulations often make it 
necessary for truckers to buy new trucks, especially in my home State 
of California. This burdensome tax hinders the ability of our truck 
drivers to acquire the most modern, safest, highest tech equipment.
  Repealing this tax would make it easier to ship goods across the 
country at lower prices for consumers, saving businesses and consumers 
money. It will also allow our trucking fleet to modernize at a lower 
cost to the poor folks who are just trying to do their job.
  At a time when our economy is reeling from inflation and high prices, 
Congress must do all it can to lower costs for small businesses and 
consumers.

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