Reps. Gillen and Suozzi and Sen. Gillibrand Urge Administration to Boost Gas Mileage Deductions Amid Skyrocketing Prices at the Pump

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03) in urging the Trump administration to raise the federal standard mileage rates for certain business, medical, and moving uses to provide relief to New Yorkers struggling amidst sky-high gas prices.

This would allow small business owners and workers who rely on vehicles for their livelihoods, like rideshare drivers, to deduct or be reimbursed for an increased amount per mile driven, helping offset the higher costs they are paying for gas. It would also benefit individuals who must regularly commute to get lifesaving medical care and service members who must move because of their work.

"Long Island families, small business owners and rideshare drivers are all feeling crushed by rising gas prices fueled by the war in Iran," said Rep. Gillen. "When people are paying more just to get to work or keep their businesses running, we should be looking for ways to ease that burden. Raising the federal standard mileage rates is a commonsense step that would help offset higher fuel costs and put more money back in the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers."

"New Yorkers are paying the price for President Trump's reckless war with Iran every time they fill up their car with gas," said Senator Gillibrand. "Raising the standard mileage rate is a commonsense way to provide relief. I encourage the administration to implement this change immediately."

"Prices are too high across the board for Americans, and the war in Iran drove them even higher at the gas pump," said Rep. Suozzi. "New Yorkers shouldn't have to break the bank just to get to work or make it to a doctor's appointment, but families are being squeezed every time they fill their tank and getting nothing in return. We must immediately bring down costs during this energy crisis by raising the standard mileage rates for business, medical, and moving uses. It's past time we give drivers a fairer break and ease the burden of rising fuel costs."

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) adjusts the amount Americans can deduct for vehicle miles traveled for business, charitable, and medical purposes, as well as certain job-related moving expenses. Currently, this rate is set at 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use, 20.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations. However, these amounts do not account for the drastic increase in fuel prices since the beginning of the war with Iran.

Gas prices rose by 50% nationwide after President Trump launched his war with Iran on February 28. In New York, gas prices increased from an average of about $3.00 per gallon to over $4.60 per gallon at their peak, costing New York consumers a combined $2 billion more for gas since the war began.

In 2022, the Biden administration raised the standard mileage rate by 4.0 cents per mile to help offset the rising gas prices that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Gillibrand and Suozzi are demanding similar relief for Americans now.

The text of the letter can be found here.

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