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S 1737 108th Congress Senate Commerce Antitrust law Competition Consumer protection Corporate mergers Crime and Law Enforcement Gasoline Injunctions Law Petroleum industry Petroleum refineries Retail trade Wholesale trade

Gasoline Free Market Competition Act of 2003

Introduced: October 15, 2003 Introduced by: Wyden, Ron Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 30, 2004
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3317)
Mar 22, 2004
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2836-2839)
Oct 15, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 15, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12621)
Oct 15, 2003
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Gasoline Free Market Competition Act of 2003 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any person engaging in commerce from: (1) imposing any condition, agreement, or understanding between a crude oil refiner and a motor fuel distributor that limits or prevents the distributor from supplying branded gasoline to independent motor fuel retailers in a highly concentrated market, unless the limitation can be proven not to injure, destroy, or limit competition; (2) selling the same brand of gasoline (if that person is a refiner) to retailers owned or controlled by that refiner in a highly concentrated market at different prices than the refiner charges to its independent dealers, or selling to independent dealers in the same relevant geographic market at different prices if those dealers are located in a highly concentrated market; or (3) engaging in any other practice that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determines would be likely to reduce supply or increase the price of gasoline in a highly concentrated market.

Directs the FTC or the Attorney General to provide notice to each refiner, distributor, and retailer doing business in a highly concentrated market that such market is a "consumer watch zone" subject to specified conditions.

Prohibits the FTC or the Attorney General from approving any combination that would create a highly concentrated market that would injure, destroy, or limit competition.

Authorizes State attorneys general to bring civil actions in U.S. district court.

What's happening now March 30, 2004

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3317)

 Committees of jurisdiction 1