Press Releases

Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) released the following statement after the announcement of the new, bipartisan Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus, aimed at confronting the MTA and Governor Hochul's cash grab.

“I’m proud to join Congressman Gottheimer and Congresswoman Malliotakis to form the Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Co-Chair of the Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus. “Governor Hochul and the MTA’s congestion pricing scheme is a regressive tax on commuters to New York City who have no reliable mass transit options. Before seeking more revenue, the MTA should work to get its house in order - especially on the runaway spending front. Any transit agency that spends more money on consultants than the actual boring of a tunnel has its priorities totally out of whack. I am hopeful that both the Governor and the MTA will see reason here and work with our bipartisan group to prevent this ridiculous scheme from ever going into effect.”

"Studies have shown that Congestion Pricing would shift vehicle traffic from higher-income, more urbanized areas to lower-income, more vulnerable communities and in our case from Manhattan’s city center to the outer boroughs," Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) said. "The fact that the MTA and the Federal Highway Administration are jamming through a flawed Environmental Assessment that failed to include Staten Island in its street-level analysis not only makes our government vulnerable to a lawsuit but further shows how politicized the program's implementation has become. We're announcing this caucus today to show officials from the city, state, and federal level that if they irresponsibly proceed with this scheme, there's a unified, bipartisan effort in Congress working to stop it."

"The MTA has been so woefully mismanaged that they're desperately looking anywhere for cash to fill the gigantic hole they dug for themselves," Rep. Gottheimer (NJ-5) said. "Their target? Hardworking commuters from New Jersey and New York. They plan to charge them $23 a day just to drive south of 60th Street here in New York - that's more than $5,000 a year - all of it going to the MTA. Not a cent of it will go to the PATH or Jersey transit to actually help our state in any way...We're here today to formally join forces with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Hudson to fight back against the Congestion Tax and get to the bottom of the MTA's legendary mismanagement. The new bipartisan Congressional Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus will stand up for hardworking Jersey and New York families and drivers who will soon face the MTA's $23 a day cash grab."

"I am happy to be part of this important bipartisan, bi-state effort to push back against New York’s Congestion Pricing Program," said Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07). "This plan is deeply flawed, unfair, and represents yet another money-grab on New Jersey commuters’ wallets. We are drawing the line and sending a message that it is wrong for any level of government to pile more tolls and fees on the backs of commuters in the midst of an unprecedented affordability crisis in our region."

Under Governor Hochul's plan, commuters may be forced to pay an additional $23 toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th street, costing drivers more than $5,000 per year. Many individuals that commute from Rockland County drive into New York City, including many first responders, nurses, and essential workers.

New York’s 17th District, which includes all or parts of Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties, is a suburban district located just north of New York City.