Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 111th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

D StupakSponsor

41 cosponsors · 40 D, 1 R

31 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act - Makes it unlawful, during a period proclaimed by the President as an energy emergency, to sell gasoline or any other petroleum distillate at a price that: (1) is unconscionably excessive; or (2) indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage of the circumstances of an emergency to increase prices unreasonably.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Apr 27, 2009

Authorizes the President to issue an energy emergency proclamation of up to 30 days, with renewals allowed, and to cite the geographic area, gasoline or other petroleum distillate, and time period covered.

Authorizes a proclamation to include a period of up to one week preceding a reasonably foreseeable emergency.

Exempts from this Act a sale of gasoline or other petroleum distillate transaction on a futures market.

Empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce this Act. Prescribes civil and criminal penalties for violations, but limits the criminal penalty to criminal actions brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Allows a state to bring a civil action to enforce this Act or to impose civil penalties.

Requires deposit of fines and penalties collected under this Act in a separate Consumer Relief Trust Fund in the Treasury to provide assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program.

Declares that nothing in this Act preempts state law.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act

Latest action (Jun 4, 2009): Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

Policy area: Energy · Origin: House · Introduced: Apr 27, 2009

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.