RELEASE: Gottheimer, Van Drew, Malliotakis Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to End New York’s Crushing Congestion Tax — Hold the MTA Accountable

WASHINGTON, D.C — Today, January 15, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2) announced the reintroduction of a bipartisan legislative package to end New York’s crushing Congestion Tax, stand up for hardworking families, and hold the woefully mismanaged Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) accountable. 

“When costs are already high, it is utterly absurd to me that New York and the MTA are whacking hardworking commuters with a crushing, regressive $9 Congestion Tax that will cost more than $2,300 a year,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’m not going to sit around and let the MTA balance their woefully mismanaged, out-of-control budget by picking the pockets of Jersey and New York families — our bipartisan legislation will put a stop to the MTA’s cash grab and hold them accountable.”

“I am proud to support this bill to fight back against congestion pricing and protect hardworking commuters,” said Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2). “States like New York and New Jersey have developed a habit of solving problems by imposing more fees and taxes on our residents, driving up the cost of living. It’s no wonder people are leaving the region in droves—it’s simply too expensive to live and work here. This needs to change, and this bill is a step in the right direction.”

“Governor Hochul and Janno Lieber will go to any length to continue treating hardworking New Yorkers like bottomless ATMs,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11). “We are already starting to see the negative impact this burdensome tax will have on working-class New Yorkers and small businesses who are already being taxed to death, and with the help of President Trump we will continue to use every legislative and legal avenue at the federal level to reverse this disastrous cash grab brought to us by Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature.”

Bipartisan Bills to End New York’s Congestion Tax and Hold the MTA Accountable: 

• The Anti-Congestion Tax Act, which Gottheimer introduced with Congressman Van Drew, prohibits the Department of Transportation from awarding any new grants to MTA projects in New York until drivers from all New Jersey and New York crossings into Manhattan receive exemptions from any Congestion Tax. This will directly stop the MTA from costing the Port Authority millions if it insists on its nine-dollar-a-day tax. 

• The Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act, which Gottheimer co-led with Congresswoman Malliotakis, requires the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct a full audit of the MTA to see how it has spent billions in federal assistance over the past five years. 

• The Economic Impact of Tolling Act, which Gottheimer co-led with Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, prohibits the Department of Transportation from enacting the Congestion Tax until an economic impact analysis is completed and made available to the public.

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