Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: House Commerce Committee to consider FTC reform bills, (Jun 21, 2016)

By TRDaily staff

The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans this week to mark up the four FTC process reform bills, recently approved by the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade subcommittee. According to the committee website, the Energy and Commerce Committee will convene at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, for opening statements and will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, for discussion, consideration of any amendments, and votes.

The proposals to be considered are: (1) the FTC Process and Transparency Reform Act of 2016 (H.R. 5510); (2) the Consumer Review Fairness Act (H.R. 5111); (3) the Reinforcing American Made Products Act (H.R. 5092); and (4) the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act (H.R. 5104).

The proposed FTC Process and Transparency Reform Act incorporates eight bills that seek to limit the agency’s enforcement against an unlawful acts or practices to instances of substantial injury to consumers; require the agency to make an annual report on the status of investigations; mandate economic analysis for the agency’s legislative and regulatory recommendations; prescribe that agency investigations terminate at the expiration of six months; and require the filing of an annual plan with Senate and House Committees.

The proposed Consumer Review Fairness Act would prohibit gag clauses preventing consumers from publishing truthful reviews and authorize the FTC and states to enforce the Act with civil penalties. The proposed Reinforcing America Made Products Act would establish the FTC’s authority over "Made in America" labeling in a single, national standard. The proposed Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act would empower the FTC to stop software used to buy up event tickets over defense measures put in place by ticket sellers.

News: Advertising ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews