ANTI-PRICE GOUGING BILL

A group of four powerful House Democrats on Wednesday introduced legislation aimed at curbing price gouging during the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 Price Gouging Prevention Act would prohibit the sale of goods and services during the current public health emergency at “grossly” higher levels than before it.

“It’s outrageous that some companies and individuals are taking advantage of American consumers by price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.) and David Cicilline (R.I.) said in a statement.

“Goods and services such as hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies, and many other items would be covered by this bill because every American deserves access to these essential goods at a reasonable price.”

Nadler and Pallone chair the House Judiciary and the House Energy and Commerce committees, respectively, while Schakowsky and Cicilline both lead subpanels on antitrust laws and consumer protection.