2022: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Established A FTC Transportation Fuel Monitoring And Enforcement Unit To Collect Crude Oil And Transportation Fuel Market Data, Identify Market Manipulation And False Importation, And Enforce Penalties. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, which would "require the Federal Trade Commission to establish a transportation fuel monitoring and enforcement unit tasked with collecting and analyzing crude oil and transportation fuel market data to support transparent market prices; identify market manipulation and false information reporting; and facilitate penalty enforcement for violations of relevant statutory prohibitions. It would authorize such sums as necessary through fiscal 2027 for such activities." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 214-207. [House Vote 230, 5/19/22; Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 215; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7688]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Authorized $1 Million To The Federal Trade Commission To Determine Whether The Price Of Gasoline Was Being Manipulated Or Artificially Increased By Price Gouging. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, which would "authorize $1 million for fiscal 2023 for the Federal Trade Commission to conduct an investigation to determine if the price of gasoline is being manipulated by reducing refinery capacity or any other form of market manipulation or being artificially increased by price gouging practices, including to consider the impact of mergers and acquisitions in the oil and gas industry. It would require the FTC to report to Congress on the investigation within 270 days of enactment and provide a long-term strategy to address oil and gas market manipulation during times of national or international crisis or emergency." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 217-205. [House Vote 229, 5/19/22; Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 214; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7688]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against An Amendment That Doubled The Penalty For Market Manipulation And Sharing False Information Regarding Fuel Pricing By Suppliers To $2 Million. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert effectively voted against the manager's amendment to the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, which would "update existing law prohibiting market manipulation and the sharing of false information relating to transportation fuel pricing by a supplier, including to double the penalty for such violations to $2 million." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 218-202, thus the manager's amendment was automatically adopted. [House Vote 209, 5/18/22; Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7688; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1124]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against Prohibiting The Sale Of Consumer Fuel At Excessive Costs During An Energy Emergency Declared By The President. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, which would "prohibit the sale of consumer fuel at excessive costs during a presidentially declared energy emergency. Specifically, the bill would allow the president to issue an energy emergency proclamation for any U.S. area for a renewable period of up to 30 days. During an energy emergency period, it would prohibit the sale of consumer fuel at a price that is 'unconscionably excessive' and indicates that the seller is 'exploiting' the circumstances of the emergency to unreasonably increase prices." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217-207, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 232, 5/19/22; Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7688]
The Bill Would Instruct The Federal Trade Commission To Enforce Fuel Price Gouging Violations, Establish Affirmative Defense For Civil And Administrative Lawsuits To Enforce Violations, And Specify The Factors In Determining The Violations Of Fuel Price Gouging. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would direct the Federal Trade Commission to enforce such violations under existing law related to unfair or deceptive practices. It would establish an affirmative defense for civil and administrative action brought to enforce the violation that an increase in price 'reasonably reflects' additional costs or risks taken to produce, distribute, obtain or sell fuel. It would specify aggravating and mitigating factors in determining violations including whether the price grossly exceeds the average price of fuel offered in the 30 days before the emergency proclamation or during a benchmark period established by the FTC; whether the price grossly exceeds the average price offered during the emergency period by other sellers in the same area; and whether the quantity of fuel produced, distributed or sold increased in an area during the emergency period, accounting for usual seasonal variation." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22]
The Bill Would Prioritize Overseeing Price Gouging Activities Against Companies With Fuel Sales Over $500 Million Annually, Permit State Attorneys General To Enforce The Bill Through Civil Actions, And Create The Consumer Trust Fund To Collect Penalties And Provide Energy Aid To Low-Income Households. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Among other provisions related to enforcement, it would require the FTC to prioritize enforcement against companies with sales over $500 million annually; allow state attorneys general to enforce the prohibition through civil action and allow the FTC to intervene in such cases; and establish the Consumer Relief Trust Fund for funds collected from penalties, to be used to provide energy assistance to low-income households." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22]
The Bill Would Increase The Maximum Penalty For Fuel Price Gouging From $1 Million To $2 Million And Expand The Federal Trade Commission's Enforcement For Market Manipulation And False Information Distribution. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would also increase from $1 million to $2 million the maximum penalty under existing law and expand FTC enforcement authority for market manipulation and sharing false information with respect to transportation fuel pricing." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22]
The Bill Would Instruct The Energy Department To Conduct Surveys To Collect Data On U.S. Crude Oil And Transportation Markets. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would require the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration to conduct surveys of energy companies to collect information on U.S. crude oil and transportation fuel markets and share survey results and related analyses with the public and the FTC." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22]
The Bill Would Require The Federal Trade Commission To Investigate And Address Price Manipulation And Price Gouging Activities During National And Global Emergencies. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would require the FTC to investigate and create a strategy to address price manipulation and price gouging practices for gasoline during national or international emergencies." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22]
The Bill Would Provide The President With The Authority To Issue Emergency Energy Proclamations And Prohibit Excessive Gas And Energy Prices, And Expand The Federal Trade Commission's Authority To Investigate And Address Violations Of Price Gouging By Energy Companies. According to CBS News, "The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act would grant the president authority to issue emergency energy proclamations and make it illegal to increase gas and energy prices in excessive and exploitative ways. It would also expand the Federal Trade Commission's power to investigate and address possible price gouging by oil and gas companies." [CBS News, 5/19/22]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the "Westerman, R-Ark., motion to recommit the bill to the House Energy and Commerce Committee." The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 201-220. [House Vote 231, 5/19/22; Congressional Quarterly, 5/19/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7688]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res 1124) that would provide for floor consideration of [...] the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act (HR 7688)." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 218-202. [House Vote 209, 5/18/22; Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7688; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1124]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act. In May 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 1124) that would provide for floor consideration of [...] the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act (HR 7688)." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 217-201. [House Vote 208, 5/18/22; Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7688; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1124]