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Rep. Jayapal demands federal action on price gouging amid Hurricane Milton evacuations
Jayapal, joined by several Florida members of the CPC, including Reps. Maxwell Frost, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Frederica Wilson, and Darren Soto, is urging the federal government to take decisive action.
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Pramila Jayapal / Image- X (@RepJayapal)
As Floridians brace for Hurricane Milton, Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal has called for immediate federal action to address price gouging by airlines and hotels.
Reports have surfaced of drastically inflated prices, creating significant barriers for residents trying to evacuate ahead of what authorities are warning could become one of Florida's worst storms in a century.
"Right now, Floridians are preparing for what could become one of the state's worst storms in a century. Authorities are telling families in the Tampa area that they will die if they don't leave their homes. But instead of making it easier for people to evacuate, airlines and hotels are exploiting a horrific situation to charge astronomical fares only the rich can afford,” Jayapal said in a statement.
"From over $600 for a single night in a Hampton Inn to over $1,000 for flights that usually cost around $100. Exploiting vulnerable people fleeing a deadly storm for higher profits is a new low,” a statement said.
Jayapal, joined by several Florida members of the CPC, including Reps. Maxwell Frost, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Frederica Wilson, and Darren Soto, is urging the federal government to take decisive action.
She highlighted similar incidents of price gouging during recent natural disasters, where residents in North Carolina and Georgia faced inflated costs for essentials like groceries, gas, and accommodations in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
"This egregious price-gouging hampers evacuations and undermines recovery efforts while putting vulnerable residents in serious jeopardy," Jayapal warned.
She acknowledged U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's attention to these allegations but emphasized the need for broader government intervention. "We applaud Secretary Buttigieg for taking these allegations seriously. In the coming days and weeks, we will need a whole-of-government focus on protecting the people impacted by these disasters from predatory price-gouging," Jayapal stated.
"Further action is still needed from the federal government to stop the corporate exploitation that impacts all areas of American life, whether at the grocery store or gas station."
Jayapal and her colleagues are calling for a federal ban on price gouging, more stringent antitrust laws, and stronger enforcement mechanisms. “Congress must reassert its role in this space, something the CPC is deeply committed to and actively engaged in,” Jayapal added.
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