“I am requesting that the Federal Trade Commission conduct an immediate investigation of the status of our nation's oil companies and refineries, how the devastation of Hurricane Katrina has impacted our domestic oil industry, and what can be done to ensure that climbing gas prices are not a result of unfair price gouging,” said Ross.  “Price gouging in the aftermath of what is arguably America’s worst natural disaster in history is intolerable and must be investigated.” 

“As a result of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of evacuees from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama have fled to Arkansas for safety.  I traveled throughout the rural Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas in the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina and have witnessed firsthand already inflated gas prices jump from $2.45 to $2.99 overnight.” 

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there has been immeasurable damage to our nation’s oil production and refining infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, where 42% of our domestic oil is produced per day,” Ross continued.  “However, we must ensure that these skyrocketing gas prices are not the result of price gouging as Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and our nation struggles to recover from the hurricane.”     

Ross is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which maintains oversight of the Federal Trade Commission.