Philly Congressman Proposes Capping Federal Gas Tax When Prices Top $4

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle wants to provide relief to drivers as gas prices surge past $4 per gallon in the Philadelphia area.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:58pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, abstract painting featuring a gas pump nozzle in motion, with overlapping, fragmented geometric shapes in warm, fiery colors, conceptually representing the turbulent state of gas prices and the political debate surrounding them.The volatile fluctuations in gas prices have become a central political issue, with lawmakers scrambling to provide relief to frustrated drivers.Philadelphia Today

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat from Northeast Philadelphia, announced a new bill that would cap the federal gas tax at 18.4 cents per gallon whenever the national average gas price exceeds $4 per gallon. Boyle said the tax break would be funded by rescinding corporate subsidies for oil and gas companies included in President Trump's previous legislation. While the bill faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Congress, Boyle hopes some GOP members will support it given the political pressure they face ahead of the midterm elections.

Why it matters

Gas prices have become a major political issue as the national average surpasses $4 per gallon, driven in part by the ongoing conflict with Iran. Democrats see an opportunity to capitalize on voter frustration over high fuel costs to make gains in the upcoming midterm elections. Boyle's proposal aims to provide direct relief to working-class drivers like 79-year-old Linda Booker, who says she can only afford to fill up $10 at a time.

The details

Boyle's bill would remove all or part of the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax anytime the national gas average goes over $4 per gallon, with a floor of $3.99 per gallon. To offset the lost revenue for the Federal Highway Fund, the bill would rescind the corporate subsidies for gas and oil companies that were included in President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'. Boyle acknowledged the bill faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Congress, but said he's hopeful some GOP members will support it given the political pressure they face ahead of the midterms.

  • On Tuesday, the average gas price in the Philadelphia area was $4.19 per gallon.
  • Six weeks ago, the average gas price in the Philadelphia area was under $3 per gallon, the same as the national average.

The players

Brendan Boyle

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Northeast Philadelphia who announced the new bill to cap the federal gas tax when prices exceed $4 per gallon.

Linda Booker

A 79-year-old retiree from Northeast Philadelphia who can only afford to fill up her Kia Soul $10 at a time as gas prices have surged.

President Donald Trump

The president whose decision to launch a war with Iran is cited as a key driver behind the recent spike in gas prices.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'The president needs to straighten this out. It's a total mess, and I don't know how they let him get away with all this. I just don't understand Congress and Senate. I really don't.'”

— Linda Booker, Retiree

“'The last time gas prices jumped by more than $1 a gallon in just one month was the 1960s, well before I was born.'”

— Brendan Boyle, U.S. Representative

What’s next

Boyle's bill will now be introduced in the Republican-controlled Congress, where it faces an uphill battle to pass. However, the congressman is hopeful that some GOP members may support the measure given the political pressure they face ahead of the midterm elections.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing political tensions over high gas prices and the challenge for lawmakers to provide meaningful relief to working-class Americans struggling with the financial burden. Boyle's proposal to cap the federal gas tax represents an attempt by Democrats to seize on voter frustration, but its ultimate success will depend on convincing some Republican lawmakers to buck their party's traditional allegiance to the oil and gas industry.