HCR-15, As Adopted by Senate, April 26, 2006

            Reps. Stahl, Adamini, Anderson, Ball, Booher, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrum, Caul, Clemente, Cushingberry, Donigan, Farrah, Gaffney, Garfield, Gillard, Gleason, Hansen, Hildenbrand, Hopgood, Kahn, Kolb, Kooiman, LaJoy, Kathleen Law, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Marleau, Mayes, McDowell, Meisner, Meyer, Miller, Mortimer, Nofs, Phillips, Plakas, Polidori, Proos, Rocca, Sak, Sheltrown, Stewart, Taub, Tobocman, Vander Veen, Waters and Zelenko offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 15.

A concurrent resolution to request the President of the United States to direct the United States Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to investigate all potential price gouging, price fixing, collusion, and other anticompetitive practices related to gasoline prices <<and memorializing Congress to pass and the President to sign legislation to cap oil profits and using federal anti-trust laws to prosecute any companies violating the law by reaping unlawful profit>>.

            Whereas, Rapidly rising gasoline prices are rippling through the American economy and creating difficult financial situations for individual families and businesses. With crude oil prices hitting $75 per barrel--an increase of more than 40 percent in less than a year--the country faces a great challenge. While there are numerous factors behind the escalating prices of oil to record levels, there are valid concerns across the country that there could be instances in which prices are being artificially increased in some situations because of activities that are not related solely to market forces; and

            Whereas, The path from the oil field to the consumer is a long one. Refining, distribution, marketing, and storage are all processes that must operate above suspicion in order to assure the American people that the prices they pay are honest. Worries over price gouging, collusion, or other illegal activities can seriously undermine the public's trust; and

            Whereas, It is essential that all efforts be made to ensure integrity in this critically important element of our economy. The United States Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission should take the lead in protecting the public from illegal activities. This vigilance must extend to refining; transportation of fuel by pipelines, marine vessels, and trucks; storage and marketing, including at the wholesale level; and commodity trading; and

            Whereas, American consumers have every right to expect that markets are fair and that their governmental agencies and personnel are doing all they can to eliminate all illegal activities, including artificial spot shortages; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we respectfully request the President of the United States to direct the United States Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to investigate all potential price gouging, price fixing, collusion, and other anticompetitive practices related to gasoline prices; and be it further

<<Resolved, That we respectfully request that the Congress of the United States pass and the President sign legislation to cap oil company profits; and be it further

            Resolved, That we respectfully request the United States Attorney General and the Department of Justice to vigorously investigate and prosecute any price gouging or profiteering by oil companies; and be it further>>

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the President of the United States.