Arizona Senator Urges White House to Lower Gas Prices

Gallego calls for IRS mileage rate hike and EPA fuel blend waiver to provide quick relief for drivers

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:54am

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Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego is urging the Trump administration to take immediate action to lower skyrocketing gas prices in the state. Gallego is calling for two measures that he says could provide near-instant relief for consumers - an increase in the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate and a waiver of Arizona's summer fuel blend requirement in Maricopa County.

Why it matters

High gas prices are putting a significant financial strain on Arizona residents, especially small business owners, rideshare drivers, and delivery workers who rely on driving for their livelihoods. Gallego is pushing for these policy changes as a way to quickly address the issue without requiring new legislation.

The details

Gallego spoke at a Phoenix gas station, noting that the average gas price in Arizona has jumped from $3.29 to $4.63 per gallon since the start of the U.S. war in Iran. He is calling for the IRS to increase the standard mileage reimbursement rate, which is currently 72.5 cents per mile, to help offset the higher fuel costs for drivers. Gallego also wants the EPA to waive Arizona's summer fuel blend requirement in Maricopa County, which he estimates could save drivers 40-50 cents per gallon within a week.

  • Arizona's average gas price topped $4 per gallon this week for the first time since 2022.

The players

Ruben Gallego

An Arizona Senator who is urging the Trump administration to take quick action to lower gas prices in the state.

Trump administration

The current presidential administration that Gallego is calling on to implement policy changes to address high gas prices.

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What they’re saying

“'Every day someone has to calculate whether they're going to have enough to either make it to work, pick up their kids from childcare or have to sacrifice it somewhere else.'”

— Ruben Gallego, Arizona Senator

What’s next

Gallego said he supports a federal gas tax holiday but cautioned it would require congressional action and take longer to implement than the policy changes he is proposing.

The takeaway

With gas prices in Arizona reaching their highest levels in years, Senator Gallego is pushing the White House to quickly enact measures that could provide immediate relief for drivers, especially those who rely on their vehicles for work. His proposals to raise the IRS mileage reimbursement rate and waive the state's summer fuel blend requirement could make a tangible difference in people's budgets without requiring new legislation.