WASHINGTON – Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) issued the following statement in response to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report on gas price gouging after Hurricane Katrina.

“The FTC report makes clear that when Congress gives the Federal Trade Commission guidance in examining gas price gouging, the Commission finds gouging at multiple levels throughout the supply chain.”

“Even in instances where the FTC report suggests that consumers were cheated, the federal government was powerless to prosecute gougers because there is no gas price gouging law in statute.”

“Although the House took a modest first step in passing a gouging bill last month, the FTC’s report demonstrates why the measure needs to be strengthened.  While the House-passed Republican gouging bill does not contain a specific definition of gas price gouging, my legislation, the Federal Response to Energy Emergencies Act (FREE Act), includes clear guidelines that the FTC must take into account in establishing a definition.  If Congress is serious about protecting consumers, it needs to give the FTC the direction it needs to define and prosecute gas price gouging.”

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