[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 238 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                    September 14, 2001.
Whereas the retail price of motor fuels reportedly rose by as much as 300 
        percent in several locations in the United States during the hours and 
        days after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001;
Whereas reliable reports suggest that the inventory of motor fuels in the United 
        States was adequate during that period;
Whereas no significant disruptions in the availability of motor fuels were 
        reported as a result of the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001;
Whereas several of the Nation's oil companies pledged to hold their fuel prices 
        steady during the period immediately following the terrorist acts;
Whereas the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has announced 
        that all of its member countries ``remain committed to continuing their 
        policy of strengthening market stability and ensuring that sufficient 
        supplies are available to satisfy market needs'' and ``are prepared to 
        use their spare capacity, if deemed necessary, to achieve those goals'';
Whereas some vendors of motor fuels in the United States may have taken 
        advantage of the uncertainty created by the terrorist acts of September 
        11, 2001, by knowingly charging in excess of a reasonable price for 
        motor fuels, a practice commonly known as ``price gouging''; and
Whereas price gouging is detrimental to consumer confidence and the economy of 
        the United States, and was particularly detrimental during the hours and 
        days after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns any price gouging with respect to motor fuels during 
        the hours and days after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001; and
            (2) urges the appropriate Federal and State agencies to investigate 
        any incidents of price gouging with respect to motor fuels during the 
        hours and days after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, and to 
        prosecute any violations of law discovered as a result of the 
        investigations.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.