Rep. Boozman Takes on Gougers, Encourages More Refineries

Rep. Boozman Takes on Gougers, Encourages More Refineries

House bill that establishes federal penalties for price gouging

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today voted to get tough on gasoline price gougers and to streamline regulations that are impeding the construction of more refineries in the United States.

Currently, there are no federal laws against gasoline price gouging. The bill Boozman voted for today, the "Federal Energy Price Protection Act," would create guidelines that defines gasoline price gouging in federal law and establish civil and criminal penalties for energy companies or individual owners that violate those laws.

"Gas gouging is simply unacceptable and this vote today shows that Congress is united in saying that we won't tolerate it," Boozman said.

This marks the second time Boozman and his colleagues have voted to crack down on gas gouging. The first was last October when the House passed the "GAS Act." That bill did not pass the Senate.

"The Senate needs to pass this bill. My constituents deserve to know that they are not being taken advantage of and this bill makes sure that anyone who tries to gouge them is held accountable," said Boozman.

Boozman also cast a vote in favor of the "Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act," which will increase our domestic ability to refine crude oil by reducing bureaucracy and streamlining the permit approval process.

"One reason our gasoline prices are so high is there has not been a refinery built in this country in over thirty years. Our demand is rising, and our refinery capacity is not keeping pace which is making us import not only crude oil, but gasoline itself. If we don't increase our refinery capacity, we can expect these high prices to stick around for a long time" said Boozman.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=42999