There’s a good chance that if you’re filling up your car today, you’re paying the lowest price in four years. According to December AAA data, the national average gas price is about $2.90 per gallon—marking the first time it has fallen below $3 since 2021.
Despite this decline, a Fox News poll found that 54% of registered voters still believe gas prices have “increased a lot” or “increased a little” compared to a year ago.
Why does gas still feel costly for so many Americans? In large part, Democrats’ aggressive green energy policies are causing gas prices to remain elevated in many states.
In an effort to discourage the use of fossil fuels, many Democrat-run states have imposed costly state gas taxes.
California, Illinois and Washington have some of the highest state gas taxes in the nation. California’s state gas tax is nearly $0.71 per gallon. By contrast, my home state of Texas has one of the lowest state gas taxes in the country at just $0.20 per gallon.
It’s no surprise these high state taxes significantly increase the price consumers pay at the pump. California, Illinois and Washington all report gas prices above the national average.
In California and Washington, prices exceed $4 per gallon. Meanwhile, Texas drivers enjoy prices closer to $2.50 per gallon, with some stations reporting prices as low as $1.96 per gallon, according to data from GasBuddy.
But state policies are only one part of the problem. On the federal level, the previous administration enacted unprecedented restrictions on U.S. oil and natural gas production.
In 2022, President Biden canceled all the remaining offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America and Alaska. Only after pressure from a federal court and Congress did the Biden Administration authorize one lease sale every two years in the Gulf of America.
The Biden administration further tightened regulations on energy development, blocked liquefied natural gas exports and spent billions of taxpayer dollars subsidizing green energy projects.
Then, on his way out the door, President Biden issued an executive order blocking offshore oil and natural gas leases on more than 625 million acres of U.S. coastal and offshore waters.
These radical green energy policies had real consequences—U.S. energy companies cancelled developments, foreign energy suppliers profited and domestic gas prices surged. When lease sales are sporadic and scarce, American energy producers cannot plan long-term investments and consumers pay more at the pump.
In short, the past policies of the Biden administration have a lasting effect on today’s energy markets.
That’s why President Trump and Congressional Republicans are working together to implement the same strategy that kept the national average gas price below $3 during President Trump’s first term.
Americans benefit when the federal government supports U.S. energy production through deregulation and by eliminating costly green energy mandates. These reforms jump start domestic production and help deliver lower energy costs.
In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, my Republican colleagues and I reopened millions of acres for offshore oil and gas leasing and require at least 30 offshore lease sales each year from 2026 to 2039. These reforms will jump-start domestic energy production and help deliver lower energy costs for families and businesses.
Last month, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the final notice of sale for one oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of America. More than just a minor administrative announcement, this is a sign that more affordable energy is on the way.
It’s critical that we continue reversing the Biden administration’s restrictive energy policies so domestic businesses can plan for long-term growth.
Americans want abundant and affordable energy, not extreme green energy mandates.
Expanding America’s domestic energy production is key to lowering gas prices, creating jobs and growing the economy. Policies that support U.S. energy will fuel economic expansion and improve affordability for millions of Americans.
