WASHINGTON, DC – The Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), has advanced four bills that will modernize the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the 21st century. Throughout the last year, the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) has conducted the Disrupter Series to discover how federal policies both help and hinder the growth of emerging technologies and the jobs they create.

The series examined the dramatic innovation within various industrial sectors and provided the impetus for many of the bills. The bills advanced today seek to reform the FTC to make it more transparent to consumers and businesses.

“These reforms to the FTC today provide a critical step forward, as we work to usher in transparency and better protect consumers from scams and other deceptive practices,” said Chairman Burgess. “In passing today’s FTC reform bills, we underscore the larger goal of the subcommittee’s ongoing Disrupter Series – to enhance our understanding of how federal policies are hindering the efficiency, transparency, and functionality of our government. The four bills clearing full committee today are significant as we aim to provide greater clarity to innovators and consumers alike.”

“Our Disrupter Series revealed outdated policies that are harming innovation, and our members got to work and crafted thoughtful, targeted reforms to modernize the FTC,” said Chairman Fred Upton. “We consolidated 11 legislative initiatives into four bills that we advanced today that balance the need for consumer protection and transparency. We also have solutions to restore fairness to online consumer reviews, protect consumers’ rights to buy tickets to their favorite events, and strengthening Made in USA labeling. These thoughtful solutions lay the groundwork for significant economic growth while continuing to encourage innovation and investment.”  

LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS:

PASSED 30 to 20: H.R. 5510, the FTC Process and Transparency Reform Act of 2016, authored by #SubCMT Chairman Burgess, consolidates eight process and transparency reform bills, including;

• H.R. 5093, the Technological Innovation through Modernizing Enforcement (TIME) Act – sponsored by #SubCMT Chairman Burgess;
• H.R. 5097, the Start Taking Action on Lingering Liabilities (STALL) Act - sponsored by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN);
• H.R. 5098, the FTC Robust Elderly Protections and Organizational Requirements to Track Scams Act - sponsored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL);
• H.R. 5109, the Clarifying Legality and Enforcement Action Reasoning (CLEAR) Act - sponsored by Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY);
• H.R. 5115, the Statement on Unfairness Reinforcement and Emphasis (SURE) Act - sponsored by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK);
• H.R. 5116, the Freeing Responsible and Effective Exchanges (FREE) Act - sponsored by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX);
• H.R. 5118, the Solidifying Habitual and Institutional Explanations of Liability and Defenses (SHIELD) Act - sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS); and
• H.R. 5136, the Revealing Economic Conclusions for Suggestions (RECS) Act - sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo.

 

PASSED BY VOICE: H.R. 5111, the Consumer Review Fairness Act, authored by subcommittee Vice Chairman Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), would;

• Prohibit gag clauses preventing consumers from publishing truthful reviews and authorize the FTC and states to enforce the Act with civil penalties.

PASSED 29 to 21: H.R. 5092, the Reinforcing American-Made Products Act of 2016, authored by committee member Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), would;

• Establish that the FTC’s authority over Made in USA labeling is the single, national standard, preventing a patchwork of laws around the nation.

PASSED BY VOICE: H.R. 5104, Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016, authored by full committee Vice Chairman Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), would;

• Empower the FTC to stop software used to buy up swaths of event tickets over defense measures put in place by ticket sellers.