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Bill117th CongressFiled May 6, 2022Commerce
H.R. 7688

Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house (May 19, 2022)

Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act

This bill prohibits any person from selling, during a proclaimed energy emergency, a consumer fuel at a price that (1) is unconscionably excessive, and (2) indicates that the seller is exploiting the emergency to increase prices unreasonably. The President may issue a proclamation of such an emergency that specifies the consumer fuel and geographic area covered and how long the proclamation applies.

The bill provides for enforcement of these provisions by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. Civil penalties collected by the commission through such enforcement must be used to provide assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Additionally, the commission must investigate whether the price of gasoline is being manipulated through reducing refinery capacity or other manipulative practices. The commission also must establish a Transportation Fuel Monitoring and Enforcement Unit to collect, monitor, and analyze crude oil and transportation fuel market data.

The bill further includes specified transportation fuels within the prohibitions against (1) manipulative market practices, and (2) reporting false price information. It also increases the penalty for violations of those prohibitions.

Finally, the Energy Information Administration must survey energy companies to facilitate transparent and competitive crude oil and transportation fuel markets.


What just happenedMay 19, 2022

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 373.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8](D-WA)Sponsor
16 cosponsors16 D
Read on Congress.gov
16cosponsors2committees22actions3amendments1related bills19subjects
  1. May 19, 2022Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 373.

  2. May 19, 2022Calendars

    Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Legislative Day 5/17/2022).

  3. May 19, 2022FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. May 19, 2022FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 232).

  5. May 19, 2022Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 207 (Roll no. 232).

  6. May 19, 2022FloorH36210

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 201 - 220 (Roll no. 231).

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  7. May 19, 2022FloorH8A000

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

  8. May 19, 2022FloorH36200

    Mr. Westerman moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H5193)

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  9. May 19, 2022FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  10. May 19, 2022FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Pappas amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Rodgers demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the amendment until a time to be announced.

  11. May 19, 2022FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1124, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pappas amendment No. 2.

  12. May 19, 2022FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Demings amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Rodgers demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the amendment until a time to be announced.

  13. May 19, 2022FloorH8D000

    The previous question was ordered on the amendment (A002) pursuant to the rule.

  14. May 19, 2022FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1124, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Demings amendment No. 1

  15. May 19, 2022FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7688.

  16. May 19, 2022FloorH8D000

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 350, H.R. 7688 and H.R. 7790. Provides for one of hour of general debate and one motion to recommit for each bill. Resolution also provides for en bloc suspension authority.

  17. May 19, 2022FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1124. (consideration: CR H5179-5195; text: CR H5179-5181)

  18. May 17, 2022FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1124 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 350, H.R. 7688 and H.R. 7790. Provides for one of hour of general debate and one motion to recommit for each bill. Resolution also provides for en bloc suspension authority.

  19. May 6, 2022IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  20. May 6, 2022IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  21. May 6, 2022IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  22. May 6, 2022IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed HouseMay 19, 202253

Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act

This bill prohibits any person from selling, during a proclaimed energy emergency, a consumer fuel at a price that (1) is unconscionably excessive, and (2) indicates that the seller is exploiting the emergency to increase prices unreasonably. The President may issue a proclamation of such an emergency that specifies the consumer fuel and geographic area covered and how long the proclamation applies.

The bill provides for enforcement of these provisions by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. Civil penalties collected by the commission through such enforcement must be used to provide assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Additionally, the commission must investigate whether the price of gasoline is being manipulated through reducing refinery capacity or other manipulative practices. The commission also must establish a Transportation Fuel Monitoring and Enforcement Unit to collect, monitor, and analyze crude oil and transportation fuel market data.

The bill further includes specified transportation fuels within the prohibitions against (1) manipulative market practices, and (2) reporting false price information. It also increases the penalty for violations of those prohibitions.

Finally, the Energy Information Administration must survey energy companies to facilitate transparent and competitive crude oil and transportation fuel markets.


Introduced in HouseMay 6, 2022

Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act

This bill prohibits any person from selling, during a proclaimed energy emergency, a consumer fuel at a price that (1) is unconscionably excessive, and (2) indicates that the seller is exploiting the emergency to increase prices unreasonably. The President may issue a proclamation of such an emergency that specifies the consumer fuel and geographic area covered and how long the proclamation applies.

The bill provides for enforcement of these provisions by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. Civil penalties collected by the commission through such enforcement must be used to provide assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act — Informed