I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 675 
To prohibit price gouging in connection with the public health emergency 
resulting from COVID–19, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2021 
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. NADLER, and Mr. 
CICILLINE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To prohibit price gouging in connection with the public 
health emergency resulting from COVID–19, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 Price 
Gouging Prevention Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PREVENTION OF PRICE GOUGING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the duration of a public 
health emergency declared pursuant to section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) as a result 
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of confirmed cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID– 
19), including any renewal thereof, it shall be unlawful 
for any person to sell or offer for sale a good or service 
at a price that— 
(1) is unconscionably excessive; and 
(2) indicates the seller is using the cir-
cumstances related to such public health emergency 
to increase prices unreasonably. 
(b) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In determining 
whether a person has violated subsection (a), there shall 
be taken into account, with respect to the price at which 
such person sold or offered for sale the good or service, 
factors that include the following: 
(1) Whether such price grossly exceeds the av-
erage price at which the same or a similar good or 
service was sold or offered for sale by such person— 
(A) during the 90-day period immediately 
preceding January 31, 2020; or 
(B) during the period that is 45 days be-
fore or after the date that is one year before 
the date such good or service is sold or offered 
for sale under subsection (a). 
(2) Whether such price grossly exceeds the av-
erage price at which the same or a similar good or 
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service was readily obtainable from other similarly 
situated competing sellers before January 31, 2020. 
(3) Whether such price reasonably reflects addi-
tional costs, not within the control of such person, 
that were paid, incurred, or reasonably anticipated 
by such person, or reasonably reflects the profit-
ability of forgone sales or additional risks taken by 
such person, to produce, distribute, obtain, or sell 
such good or service under the circumstances. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COM-
MISSION.— 
(A) UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRAC-
TICES.—A violation of subsection (a) shall be 
treated as a violation of a regulation under sec-
tion 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commis-
sion Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding 
unfair or deceptive acts or practices. 
(B) POWERS OF COMMISSION.—The Com-
mission shall enforce subsection (a) in the same 
manner, by the same means, and with the same 
jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all 
applicable terms and provisions of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) 
were incorporated into and made a part of this 
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