Skip to main content
S 1735 109th Congress Senate Commerce Administrative procedure Alternative energy sources Automobile industry Civil actions and liability Climate change and greenhouse gases Coastal zone Congress Congressional investigations Congressional reporting requirements Consumer education Crime and Law Enforcement Disasters Economic impact statements Economic statistics Economics and Public Finance Electronic government information Emergency Management Energy Energy prices

Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005

Introduced: September 20, 2005 Introduced by: Cantwell, Maria Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 20, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 20, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10238-10239)
Sep 20, 2005
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Energy Emergency Consumer Protection Act of 2005 - States that during any presidentially-declared energy emergency it is unlawful to sell crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates in, or for use in, the area involved at a price that: (1) is unconscionably excessive; or (2) indicates the seller is taking unfair advantage of the circumstances to increase prices unreasonably.

Makes it unlawful to: (1) report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) false or misleading data and information regarding the wholesale price of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates; or (2) use or employ, in connection with the purchase or sale of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates at wholesale, any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance, in contravention of FTC-prescribed rules and regulations.

Authorizes the President to declare a federal energy emergency if the health, safety, welfare, or economic well-being of American citizens is at risk because there exists either: (1) an actual or imminent shortage of adequate supplies of crude oil, gasoline, or petroleum distillates due to a disruption in the national distribution system; or (2) significant pricing anomalies in national energy markets for such products.

Empowers the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce this Act.

Prescribes maximum civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.

Instructs the FTC to: (1) facilitate price transparency in wholesale crude oil and petroleum product markets; and (2) conclude a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and other appropriate agencies relating to information sharing.

Instructs the Comptroller General to investigate periodically the extent to which major oil companies and automobile manufacturers have invested in alternative fuels production, infrastructure, and technology development.

Directs the National Academy of Sciences to review expenditures and activities by major U.S. companies to protect the energy supply system from terrorist attacks, international supply disruptions, and natural disasters, and ensure a stable and reasonably priced supply of such products to consumers.

What's happening now September 20, 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1