Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, and Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader - Neguse, Warren, Harris and Lieu Call for Price Gouging Measures to Be Included in Next Covid-19 Stimulus Package

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer and Minority
Leader McCarthy:

As you work to shape the next stimulus package to address the health and economic needs of the
American people during the COVID-19 pandemic, we ask you to include provisions from the
Price Gouging Prevention Act to ensure that American consumers have access to the products
they need to protect their health and the health of their loved ones.

As COVID-19 quickly spread across the country, there was a surge in reports of companies and
individuals exploiting the current crisis to prey on consumers by charging outrageous prices for
affordable household staples like cleaning supplies, masks, and hand sanitizer. Research
conducted by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund confirmed
rampant price gouging across Amazon's platform, finding that the "price of most of the
sanitizers and masks rose at least 50 percent higher than the 90-day average." Other examples
include small bottles of hand sanitizer advertised for $20, a pack of 20 face masks for $100, and
a package of disinfectant wipes that generally sells for $13.57 increased to $220.

Due to the pervasiveness of this abhorrent practice, several state attorneys general across the
country have taken action under state price gouging or consumer protection laws. However, the
lack of a federal standard inhibits federal regulators from playing a robust role in enforcement
that would fill critical gaps in state laws and support state efforts. The Price Gouging Prevention
Act would establish a bright-line rule against price increases of 10 percent or higher on essential
consumer goods and empower the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and State Attorneys
General to enforce the prohibition. Such a bright-line trigger has worked well at the state level,
and is essential for giving enforcers the tools they need to act swiftly to protect consumers from
exploitative pricing tactics.

It is critically important we ensure that all Americans not only have access to the preventative
health products they need, but also that they are not taken advantage of in an already
economically stressful time. Short of that, we risk undermining our efforts to slow the spread and
recover from the current crisis. We ask House and Senate Leadership to include provisions from
our bill in the next legislative package to ensure that consumers have access to the items they
need to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.