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| Wilson Renews Call for Action to Protect Americans from Gasoline Price Gouging |
September 07, 2005 |
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| Congressional Hearing Focuses on Rising Energy Prices
Washington, DC – Speaking in a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee today, Congresswoman Heather Wilson renewed her call for congressional action to stem potential gasoline price gouging and urged a national focus on protecting consumers during disasters.
“For me to drive roundtrip from Albuquerque, in my district, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, sixty miles away, will now cost me a little over $15. The average cost of regular gasoline in New Mexico is inching toward $3.10 a gallon. In my district, a month ago gasoline cost $2.34; a year ago it cost $1.85. Nationally, gasoline prices have reached $6.00 in some areas,” Wilson said.
“While gasoline prices were on the rise before Hurricane Katrina, times of tragedy should not be windfalls for opportunists,” Wilson said. “Prosecution for price-gouging is generally a state matter unless it involves some form of collusion or other activity in violation of federal antitrust laws.”
“Only 23 states have anti-gouging laws on the books, and definitions vary widely,” Wilson concluded. “Congress may very well need to develop legislative solutions to address price-gouging.”
On Friday, September 2, Wilson released a letter to Speaker Dennis Hastert raising concerns about reports of price gouging and asserting the need for congressional action on the issue.
“It is an unfortunate fact of life that opportunists will attempt to take advantage of people when they are in need and are most vulnerable,” Wilson said in the letter. “I would like to request that your office make a concerted effort to bring Members together to assess price gouging and develop emergency legislative solutions that will minimize the economic impact of Hurricane Katrina.”
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