HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - With many drivers struggling to pay the high gas prices at the pump, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal is proposing a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax to provide immediate relief.
Blumenthal has introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act, legislation that would suspend the 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax until January 1, 2023.
The bill would also require the Treasury Department to monitor oil and gas companies to ensure that the savings are delivered to drivers directly.
According to Blumenthal, the gas tax is not needed right now because those funds go to the Highway Trust Fund for infrastructure repairs.
"We have just passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure program. Hundreds of billions of dollars for roads and highways and bridges, and we can use this money to give some relief," Blumenthal said.
It's for this reason, he said, that the 18.4 cent gas tax will not increase the deficit "by one dime."
However, if the Highway Trust Fund does run low, Blumenthal said, the Gas Prices Relief Act has safeguards in place to make sure it can be replenished from the treasury.
Connecticut's average gas price currently sits at $3.67 which is up $1 compared to last year's average.