Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act

Bill: 110-hr-6346
Sponsor: Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1]
Introduced: 2008-06-23 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Consumer protection
Crime and Law Enforcement
Emergency Management
Energy
Energy assistance for the poor
Energy prices
Energy supplies
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Gasoline
Law
Parties to actions
Petroleum
Petroleum industry
Profit
Restrictive trade practices
Retail trade
Service stations
Social Welfare
Wholesale trade

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: 
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.
 
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 and provides for civil and criminal penalties, limiting 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 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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 276 - 146 (Roll no. 448). (text: CR H5934-5935)
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 276 - 146 (Roll no. 448).(text: CR H5934-5935)
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5964-5965)
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6346.
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5934-5940)
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: Mr. Stupak moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-06-23
text: Introduced in House