Rep. Cleaver Votes to Crack Down on Price Gouging at the Gas Pump

(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of legislation to bring down fuel costs for Missouri families by cracking down on price gouging from Big Oil companies. H.R. 7688, the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, would take critical steps to combat excessive price increases and hold Big Oil accountable by empowering the federal government to fight artificially high fuel prices.

"At a time when Missourians are struggling to keep up with rising gas prices due to Putin's despicable invasion of Ukraine, Big Oil companies are taking advantage of this moment by enacting unnecessary, aggressive price increases to pad their already record profits. It's completely unacceptable to me, and it's about time Congress took action to address the price gouging," said Congressman Cleaver. "The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act will help to crack down on efforts from giant corporations to exploit hardworking Americans at the gas pump and, in turn, bring down costs for consumers across the country. As Democrats in Congress work to combat unfair business practices and market consolidation, I will continue searching for solutions that will help to build on the record job creation we've seen under President Biden, while lowering costs for Missourians in the Fifth Congressional District."

In the months since Vladimir Putin made the unconscionable decision to invade Ukraine, working families have seen higher costs, both at the pump and through the rising costs of consumer goods and commercial transportation. While Missourians feel the pain of the Putin Price Hike, major oil and gas companies are utilizing this moment to pad their record profits by deliberately keeping production low and ensuring prices remain unnecessarily exorbitant. Big Oil executives have audaciously boasted about prioritizing stock buybacks over lowering costs for families. While more than 9,000 drilling permits go unused, the seven largest oil companies have announced stock buybacks that could total $41 billion this year alone.

According to recent polling, an overwhelming 87 percent of Americans want Congress to crack down on price gouging by oil companies. To lower costs on American families, the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act will give the President authority to issue an Energy Emergency Proclamation, which would ban excessively high gas and home energy prices. The legislation would also empower the Federal Trade Commission to prevent market manipulation, punish bad actors, and collect penalties to support the Consumer Relief Trust Fund.

"President Biden and Democrats in Congress remain laser-focused on taking action to lower costs for hardworking families throughout the United States—and this piece of legislation is not only popular with the public, but a critical step in that effort," said Congressman Cleaver.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.