Contact Congress about H.R. 4720: Cracking Down on Price Gouging Act

Sellers could not sharply raise prices on key goods and services during emergencies or major shortages. The bill sets a federal price-gouging rule and raises fines for willful violations.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Cracking Down on Price Gouging Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Latest action on H.R. 4720: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects sellers of essential goods and services during emergencies or shortages. It also affects people who buy food, medicine, fuel, electricity, home heating oil, emergency supplies, and similar necessities. Federal enforcers and courts would have to decide when a price increase crosses the line.

Why this matters: During a crisis, people can face sudden price jumps for basics they cannot go without. This bill would create a federal rule for when those price jumps become illegal. It could make enforcement clearer, but it could also raise hard questions about normal cost increases, supply risks, and fast-moving markets.

Key provisions in H.R. 4720

• The bill adds price gouging to current federal anti-hoarding rules. Those rules are part of the Defense Production Act, a law used to protect critical supplies.
• Sellers could not charge prices that are far above the local market price. They also could not charge an unfairly excessive price for covered items.
• The unfair-price test looks back to an earlier price. It uses the price right before the President declared a material scarce, or right before an acute shortage began.
• A price jump of 10% or more would usually count as a major gap. Smaller increases could still count if the facts show the price was unfair.
• Some higher prices would still be allowed. The increase would not count as unfair if it came from a real business need or extra costs outside the seller's control.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 4720

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 4720

What is H.R. 4720?

Sellers could not sharply raise prices on key goods and services during emergencies or major shortages. The bill sets a federal price-gouging rule and raises fines for willful violations.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 4720?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 4720?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 4720 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.