Government Oversight & Ethics
WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers in the US House and Senate are trying to protect consumers from scammers and price gouging in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
They say it's time to stop those playing on the public's fear for profit.
Thirty dollar toilet paper, seventy dollar hand sanitizer.
"We see amazing mark-ups of common items that many people need," Representative Ted Lieu, D-California, said.
Some online sellers have been price gouging trying to profit off Americans' coronavirus fears.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) sent a letter to the President urging him not to require graduating West Point cadets to return to school to hear President Trump speak during the COVID-19 pandemic. Doing so, Rep. Lieu argues, could put their lives and the lives of their families at risk.
In the letter, Mr. Lieu writes:
Dear Mr. President:
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on the 105th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The bill provides an additional $310 billion in funding for the PPP; adds $50 billion to the Small Business Administration's Disaster Loans Program; increases disaster grants by $10 billion; and offers $75 billion to hospitals and health care workers for necessities like personal protective equipment.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse joined a trio of fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate this week in calling for the swift passage of a bill aimed at banning price-gouging practices that have led sellers to jack up the prices on items such as masks and hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 outbreak.
In Malibu … US Congressman Ted Lieu is offering assistance to small businesses that have already submitted loan applications but have not yet heard back. Those businesses can fill out an online form and submit it to his office via email. A caseworker in his office will be assigned to investigate the application status of all forms received.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced last month that it would roll back fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2021 to 2026. These standards are significantly weaker than those that had been promulgated by the Obama Administration. Among other changes, under the rule, automakers will be required to improve annual fuel efficiency by 1.5 percent rather than 5 percent.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) sent a letter to CDC Director Redfield in response to reports of high rates of false negatives returned by coronavirus test kits. In a February hearing, Congressman Lieu asked Director Redfield several times about the error rate for Covid-19 tests. Director Redfield assured Members the test kits worked.
WASHINGTON— Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) introduced legislation to prohibit raising the price of essential goods and consumer products in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Price gouging is the predatory practice of raising the price of consumer goods in response to pandemic-induced demand from consumers.This bill would prohibit such practices throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as during future national emergencies.