IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 238

Condemning any price gouging with respect to motor fuels during the hours

and days after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 14, 2001

Mr. TAUZIN (for himself, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr.

UPTON, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. GORDON, Mr.

LARGENT, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. BURR of North Carolina, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs.

CUBIN, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. SHIMKUS, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. JOHN, Mr. BUYER, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. BASS,

Mr. BARRETT, Mr. PITTS, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr.

HALL of Texas, Mr. RUSH, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. STRICKLAND, Mr. LUTHER, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. STUPAK, Mr.

ENGEL, Ms. DEGETTE, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. SAWYER, Mr. WYNN, Mr.

KLECZKA, Mr. BLUNT, and Mr. BARTON of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and

Commerce

SEPTEMBER 14, 2001

Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; which was considered and

agreed to

RESOLUTION

Condemning any price gouging with respect to motor fuels

during the hours and days after the terrorist acts of

September 11, 2001.

Whereas the retail price of motor fuels reportedly rose by as

much as 300 percent in several locations in the United
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States during the hours and days after the terrorist acts

of September 11, 2001;

Whereas reliable reports suggest that the inventory of motor

fuels in the United States was adequate during that period;

Whereas no significant disruptions in the availability of motor

fuels were reported as a result of the terrorist acts of

September 11, 2001;

Whereas several of the Nation’s oil companies pledged to hold

their fuel prices steady during the period immediately following the terrorist acts;

Whereas the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

(OPEC) has announced that all of its member countries

‘‘remain committed to continuing their policy of strengthening market stability and ensuring that sufficient supplies are available to satisfy market needs’’ and ‘‘are prepared to use their spare capacity, if deemed necessary, to

achieve those goals’’;

Whereas some vendors of motor fuels in the United States

may have taken advantage of the uncertainty created by

the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, by knowingly

charging in excess of a reasonable price for motor fuels,

a practice commonly known as ‘‘price gouging’’; and

Whereas price gouging is detrimental to consumer confidence

and the economy of the United States, and was particularly detrimental during the hours and days after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
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•HRES 238 ATH

1 (1) condemns any price gouging with respect to

2 motor fuels during the hours and days after the ter3 rorist acts of September 11, 2001; and

4 (2) urges the appropriate Federal and State

5 agencies to investigate any incidents of price

6 gouging with respect to motor fuels during the hours

7 and days after the terrorist acts of September 11,

8 2001, and to prosecute any violations of law discov9 ered as a result of the investigations.

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