Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 16, 2005
Gross Overcharging Undermines Gasoline Economics Act - Prohibits retail sales of gasoline for a price that exceeds the base price index multiplied by twice the rate of inflation, as adjusted according to a certain regional price structure index.
Instructs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) develop a regional price structure index to reflect regional variances in gasoline reformulation requirements and transportation costs; and (2) assess a civil penalty for a violation of this Act.
Directs the Federal Trade Commission to report annually to Congress on: (1) passive and active collusion to set gasoline prices;(2) antitrust practices throughout all supply chains in the oil industry; and (3) recommendations to protect consumers against gasoline price gouging.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Read full official summaryShow less
Prohibits the Secretary from acquiring new petroleum products for, or placing any petroleum products in, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
Directs the Secretary to release from the SPR one million barrels of oil per day.
Establishes the Pricing and Economic Impact Commission to report to Congress on the effect of this Act upon: (1) domestic oil production; (2) foreign oil imports; (3) profits of the oil industry; (4) inflation; (5) employment; (6) economic growth; (7) federal revenues; and (8) national security.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Explore the bill from different angles
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Neutral evidence review
Objective
Analyze H.R.2944 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact
Progressive lens
Examine H.R.2944 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope
Conservative lens
Examine H.R.2944 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power
Liberty lens
Examine H.R.2944 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.