WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 20, 2026) – In a new op-ed published in the Washington Examiner, Louis Bertolotti, NFIB Principal of Federal Government Relations, urges Congress to help small business owners with rising fuel costs by suspending the federal fuel tax. He cites NFIB research, which shows how increasing gas and fuel prices have had a negative impact on small businesses.

Bertolotti writes:

“NFIB represents nearly 300,000 small business owner members across the United States. Over the last few years, we have heard a rising number of concerns around the cost of energy and how it impacts small businesses.

“Earlier this year, the results of NFIB’s national energy survey showed that more than 80% of small businesses saw energy as a “significant” cost factor in their operations, and 42% had seen costs grow “substantially” in the last three years. High energy costs do not stop with the business owner. A majority in the survey reported that they had been forced to raise consumer prices to manage these new inputs.”

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“When energy is affordable and reliable, business owners can operate with the certainty they need to bolster their local economies, create more jobs, and give back to their communities across the country.

“State and federal gas taxes account for approximately 11% of the average retail price, according to the Congressional Research Service. The quickest way to provide relief to small business owners is to cut this out of the picture and give consumers an immediate, recognizable break.

“Pro-small business governors in multiple states are recognizing this truth. Congress, now it is your turn to act. The federal excise gas tax is 18.3 cents per gallon of gas and 24.3 cents per diesel gallon. Small businesses urgently need you to temporarily suspend these collections to help them adjust to the new prices.”

Read the full op-ed here.