Wilson to Introduce Gas Price Gouging Provision as Amendment to Energy Bill

Wilson to Introduce Gas Price Gouging Provision as Amendment to Energy Bill
9/27/2005

Congresswoman to Offer Amendment Tomorrow in House Energy & Commerce Committee

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced that she will introduce gasoline price gouging legislation as an amendment in tomorrow's consideration of the Gasoline for America's Security (GAS) Act of 2005 in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Wilson and Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, introduced a bill September 14, 2005, to give the Federal Trade Commission the authority to investigate price gouging by individuals or companies. The bill, which will be offered as an amendment, would impose stiff civil penalties for price-gouging after an area has been declared a disaster area.

"Federal enforcement of gasoline price gouging should be part of this energy legislation," Wilson said. "Times of tragedy should not be windfalls for opportunists."

"Federal law doesn't prevent gasoline price gouging by individual bad actors, so Congress needs to step in to protect consumers in every part of the country. Only 23 states have anti-gouging laws on the books, and definitions vary widely. We should give the FTC the authority to investigate and penalize price-gouging."

Currently, prosecution for price-gouging falls under state law unless it involves some form of collusion or other activity in violation of federal antitrust laws. Wilson is concerned that does not adequately address price gouging that does not rise to the level of current antitrust regulations. Following the Hurricane Katrina disaster, gasoline prices have fluctuated up to $6 in some communities.

http://wilson.house.gov/NewsAction.asp?FormMode=Releases