117 S2039 IS: Tougher Enforcement Against Monopolists Act
U.S. Senate
2021-06-14
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the Tougher Enforcement Against Monopolists Act
or the TEAM Act
. 2.The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I—One agency
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Findings.
Sec. 103. Definitions.
Sec. 104. Transfer of antitrust enforcement functions from the Federal Trade Commission to the Department of Justice.
Sec. 105. Removal of review authority from Federal Communications Commission and State entities.
Sec. 106. Technical and conforming amendments.
Sec. 107. Effective date.
TITLE II—Mergers
Sec. 201. Premerger notification filing fees.
Sec. 202. Merger presumptions.
Sec. 203. Merger notification requirements.
TITLE III—Competition policy
Sec. 301. Competitive impact statement.
Sec. 302. Written explanations of enforcement and non-enforcement actions.
Sec. 303. Studies.
Sec. 304. Monopsony guidelines.
TITLE IV—Restoring board immunity
Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Statement of findings and purpose.
Sec. 403. Definitions.
Sec. 404. Antitrust immunity.
Sec. 405. Active supervision.
Sec. 406. Judicial review.
TITLE V—Other improvements to antitrust laws
Sec. 501. Overturning Illinois Brick and Hanover Shoe.
Sec. 502. Limitations on implied immunity from the antitrust laws.
Sec. 503. Prejudgment interest.
Sec. 504. Safe harbor for efforts to facilitate data portability and interoperability.
Sec. 505. Study of assigning all antitrust cases to certain district courts of the United States.
Sec. 506. Balancing harm and benefits.
Sec. 507. Actions on behalf of consumers under Sherman Act.
Sec. 508. Civil fines for knowing violations of the antitrust laws.
Sec. 509. Direct evidence of intent to avoid or restrict competition.
Sec. 510. Limit on contracting.
Sec. 511. Prohibiting discrimination in distribution.
Sec. 512. Authorizations of appropriations.
3.In this Act: (1)The term antitrust laws means—
(A)the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and (B)the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.).
(2)Assistant Attorney GeneralThe term Assistant Attorney General means the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. (3)The term Executive agency has the meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
<enum>I</enum><header>One agency</header>
<section id="ided6d6d3bc1a6451a96c2014be0e457b6"><enum>101.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>One Agency Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="id169B063C33344E4F99A2F719F04D1A83"><enum>102.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress finds the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id39bd5d147a5e49dfbfef616ef0de5e28"><enum>(1)</enum><text>It is the policy of the United States to promote the vigorous, effective, and efficient enforcement of the antitrust laws.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id57c16352e07f4c01b41e79853e4aebc8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The overlapping antitrust enforcement jurisdiction of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission has wasted taxpayer resources, hampered enforcement efforts, and caused uncertainty for businesses and consumers in the United States.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida96ff036d51c4361a534b96c3a8dce77"><enum>(3)</enum><text>It is preferable that primary Federal responsibility for enforcing the antitrust laws of the United States be given to a single agency, and the Department of Justice is best suited to do so.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="id3d73fc477188408ca9f7fda9e1fe974b"><enum>103.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="idf55a559ee4894e9686a577c868d93693"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Commission</header><text>The term <term>Commission</term> means the Federal Trade Commission.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id4384cbc2933f4490b54158b3538c7605"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The term <term>effective date</term> means the date described in section 107.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id787c1906748d41d0a96c306bd128f04e"><enum>(3)</enum><header>FTC antitrust action</header><text>The term <term>FTC antitrust action</term> means any litigation or administrative proceeding initiated by the Commission that—</text> <subparagraph id="id44c396d75abc4f859da54724f6d4b80c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is supervised by an FTC Antitrust Unit; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idf7b3052202474fc78853a9de42df4611"><enum>(B)</enum><text>relates to the antitrust laws or section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>), as in effect on the day before the effective date.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idbf5c1956b38344f8bfcac9651f2752d4"><enum>(4)</enum><header>FTC antitrust assets</header><text>The term <term>FTC antitrust assets</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="id09f19b7142954563a112b6b6d39b23fe"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means all electronic or tangible records and files relating to matters supervised, as well as any physical assets or equipment owned and used or retained, by an FTC Antitrust Unit; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id33587dc29a534941b695980bb269d2d0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include any office space or leased facilities or equipment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id568be32391664d0b8468d0ceeb0340b5"><enum>(5)</enum><header>FTC antitrust employee</header><text>The term <term>FTC antitrust employee</term> means an individual who on the day before the effective date is employed by the Federal Trade Commission and assigned to an FTC Antitrust Unit.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id26b4d5b2b2a24793853d74850e28e0f8"><enum>(6)</enum><header>FTC antitrust function</header><text>The term <term>FTC antitrust function</term> means a function of the Commission relating to the antitrust laws or unfair methods of competition under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>), as in effect on the day before the effective date.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idcb47b1311e9243d78dd86699cc94ef07"><enum>(7)</enum><header>FTC antitrust funding</header><text>The term <term>FTC antitrust funding</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="id6bf5d7748b814f07a068d8db6a34645e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all amounts appropriated before the effective date by an Act of Congress to the Federal Trade Commission that are designated, by Congress or the Commission, for an FTC Antitrust Unit; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id02876815442f41abbaeeb918fb0f0b03"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all fees collected by the Federal Trade Commission before the effective date under section 7A of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a</external-xref>) and rules issued under that section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="ide4d92a513271425e9bc6d7f2bbb2f8fa"><enum>(8)</enum><header>FTC Antitrust Unit</header><text>The term <term>FTC Antitrust Unit</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="ida540fe1a27124a88a774af1cd8e53715"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Bureau of Competition of the Commission; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ide302991c52d945a09db597698f6d8682"><enum>(B)</enum><text>each division of the Bureau of Economics of the Commission that is designated to work on FTC antitrust actions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id6c8d5e20cf18467394df1c9ef2b0ae4e"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Function</header><text>The term <term>function</term> means any duty, obligation, power, authority, responsibility, right, privilege, activity, or program.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idd8cd2ca12b3b4e8c889b08a46c539873"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Transition period</header><text>The term <term>transition period</term> means the period beginning on the effective date of this title and ending on the later of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id0F6068E4FB164C1BA8127703AA100EAC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date that is 1 year after the effective date of this title; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id0B2407CF70DF411693F080A98962E3DE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date that is 180 days after the date described in subparagraph (A), which may be extended by the Assistant Attorney General once for an additional 180 days, if the Assistant Attorney General determines that a period longer than the period described in subparagraph (A) is necessary to avoid harm to the interests of the United States or the effective enforcement of the antitrust laws.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section>
<section id="id39e0855c11124079a0238690c6eb5803"><enum>104.</enum><header>Transfer of antitrust enforcement functions from the Federal Trade Commission to the Department of Justice</header>
<subsection id="id039e8df65ed743db8bb82f2ac7e48aa6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Transfer of functions</header>
<paragraph id="idd5248d1e4f65456e9091aba295116898"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (3)(D), there shall be transferred to the Department of Justice all FTC antitrust functions, FTC antitrust employees, FTC antitrust assets, and FTC antitrust funding on the earlier of—</text> <subparagraph id="id3b4f5ebade5942309a4122d65ac5a34a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date determined by the Assistant Attorney General under paragraph (2)(B); or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id3730192970bf4bc7975cae70b235639a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the end of the transition period.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id8309fee9d04d4692a1c20740bee5811f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>The Assistant Attorney General, taking care to minimize disruption to ongoing enforcement matters and in consultation as necessary with the Attorney General, the Office of Personnel Management, the General Services Administration, and the Chairman of the Commission, shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idfaee382e4da840ffa34e775f9780668f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>take all necessary actions to complete implementation of this title before the end of the transition period; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id92e6e495d63842c8bd7eed22aab4a00f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>determine the dates certain, which may not be earlier than the effective date nor later than the end of the transition period, on which the transfers under paragraph (1) shall occur.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id0a23ce4f360a4a94bbbd7c0dec0bafc0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Personnel</header>
<subparagraph id="idd008bb2917444d229309d4201d88607b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Assignment</header><text>An FTC antitrust employee transferred to the Department of Justice under this title shall be assigned to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id1ea20badbac0475994f314cf23ba521d"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Effect on personnel</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the transfer under this title of an FTC antitrust employee shall not cause the employee to be separated or reduced in grade or compensation for 1 year after the transfer date.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id3eb78519d6c9405d8682d5fc5f9205f4"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Executive schedule</header><text>Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), the Assistant Attorney General may appoint an FTC antitrust employee in a Senior Executive Service position, as defined in section 3132 of title 5, United States Code, to a position within the Antitrust Division rate payable for a position at level 15, step 10 of the General Schedule.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idf3ddc14dcf6d45f0bd2fccc118253a07"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Voluntary nontransfer of personnel</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an FTC antitrust employee may, with the consent of the Chairman of the Commission, elect to remain an employee of the Commission assigned to a non-FTC Antitrust Unit.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id0104cb41a7134a038f1bd5961fe23a7f"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Office space</header><text>Upon request from the Assistant Attorney General, and in consultation as necessary with the General Services Administration, the Commission shall allow the Department of Justice to use any office space or leased facilities previously used by FTC antitrust employees until such time as the Department of Justice may provide its own office space or facilities. After the transfer of FTC antitrust funding to the Department of Justice, the Department of Justice shall compensate the Commission for the costs of the use of such office space or leased facilities.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id9342a269659843d49581a906ea45f3e3"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Restructuring</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Assistant Attorney General is authorized to restructure the Antitrust Division before the expiration of the transition period, as the Assistant Attorney General determines is appropriate, to carry out the purposes of this title and accomplish the efficient enforcement of the antitrust laws.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ideeb63b43d0804712aefb40768b6d3dde"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Antitrust actions</header>
<subparagraph id="ida955ebc95b5f4e8b8da155848e73be0e"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As soon as is reasonably practicable during the transition period, all open investigations, litigations, matters, or other proceedings being supervised by an FTC antitrust unit and relating to the antitrust laws or unfair methods of competition under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>), as in effect on the day before the effective date, shall be transferred to and assumed by the Department of Justice.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ida7f572ec626443f1a551b42f7306afd0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Handling of certain administrative proceedings</header><text>Administrative proceedings that were initiated by the Commission, were unresolved as of the first day of the transition period, and relate to enforcement of the antitrust laws or unfair methods of competition under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>), as in effect on the day before the effective date, shall be treated in the following manner:</text>
<clause id="ida2888af62c514c80b2b19adb8f3d9032"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Any such proceeding pending before an administrative law judge shall be dismissed without prejudice and the matter shall be referred to the Assistant Attorney General.</text></clause> <clause id="id2a0dd27de1104d1b9a743bb14296c3eb"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>For any such proceeding pending on appeal before the Commission, the administrative appeal shall cease, the ruling of the administrative law judge shall be treated as the final decision of the Commission, and the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit shall have jurisdiction over any appeal therefrom.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id243E46F2BB9A4C688D3112FBAF01314D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Intervention</header>
<clause id="id0ec9aee01c2c4949a811cb35b94b6239"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any FTC antitrust action before a court of the United States as of the first day of the transition period, the court shall allow the Department of Justice to—</text> <subclause id="id676a1416eb344398a30ea10f948c5eac"><enum>(I)</enum><text>intervene and assume representation of the Federal Government from the Commission; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id49f38e625ca44dc7b414492b1fb77261"><enum>(II)</enum><text>amend any complaint originally brought by the Commission for the purpose of alleging violations of statutes other than the Federal Trade Commission Act as necessary and where appropriate.</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="id6118fe834fe64788a03052b3deaf1f2a"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Scheduling order upon request</header><text>Upon the request of the Commission or the Department of Justice, and in consultation with all parties to the matter, the court shall issue an order making such scheduling adjustments as necessary to facilitate the transfer of prosecutorial responsibilities under this subparagraph.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="iddc08905fc07040abb5e7f1d33827b5ae"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Consent decrees</header><text>At the end of the transition period, the Department of Justice shall have sole authority to enforce violations of, approve modifications to, or rescind any consent decree entered into by the Commission before the effective date that concerns conduct alleged to violate the antitrust laws or unfair methods of competition under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>), as in effect on the day before the effective date.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="ide0f5ebd9438a4786abd027bf7fec26d3"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Authority to conduct investigative studies</header> <subparagraph id="id7078192BB0DA41BA8319E6BB094FE55C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Reports of persons, partnerships, and corporations</header> <clause id="idD139187EE80C44A8B550C40BC535F3B3"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Department of Justice may require, by general or special orders, persons, partnerships, and corporations, engaged in or whose business affects commerce to file with the Department in such form as the Department may prescribe annual or special reports or answers in writing to specific questions, furnishing to the Department such information as the Department may require as to the organization, business, conduct, practices, management, and relation to other corporations, partnerships, and individuals of the respective persons, partnerships, and corporations filing such reports or answers in writing.</text></clause>
<clause id="id9CA8B243A6094ED3AF24C86D5C577260"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Oath</header><text>Reports and answers required under clause (i) shall—</text> <subclause id="idA20D9467E38B4220A713FA3C6459F86D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>be made under oath or otherwise as the Department may prescribe;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="idBCF000D0D27A44B78ED34F4971886CB3"><enum>(II)</enum><text>pertain solely to competition or the application of the antitrust laws; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="id04EA348FFDAD4EB1A2ADE1D7E3FC0F92"><enum>(III)</enum><text>be filed with the Department within such reasonable period as the Department may prescribe, unless additional time be granted in any case by the Department.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id16AFDCAE17664FC29A802210A450B8AD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Publication of information or reports</header>
<clause id="idE73FAB9CF86541CEBA4DD2AEF7DEE0C8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in clause (ii), the Department of Justice—</text> <subclause id="idB5A8673C41CF417BAE686B391C46FDB4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall make public from time to time such portions of the information obtained by the Department under this paragraph as are in the public interest;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="idB7F47A485DAF4B1496E4C91BB1ED1E37"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may make annual and special reports to Congress that include recommendations for additional legislation; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="id11AD1F5E42874ED1B4F576C043E6CC7F"><enum>(III)</enum><text>shall provide for the publication of reports and decisions of the Department in such form and manner as may be best adapted for public information and use.</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="idA09CCB46A34D478399DBC70F4378D7B5"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Prohibition against publication of privileged or confidential information</header>
<subclause id="id79950489DDB34E2CBED0A253B782EAEB"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subclause (II), the Department of Justice shall not make public any trade secret or any commercial or financial information that is obtained from any person and that is privileged or confidential.</text></subclause> <subclause id="id11F7B7FE7F3744639E14538FFBC933F6"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>The Department may disclose information described in subclause (I) to—</text>
<item id="idF6854E4112D24E5685E6504C89A08F86"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>officers and employees of appropriate Federal law enforcement agencies or to any officer or employee of any State law enforcement agency upon the prior certification of an officer of any such Federal or State law enforcement agency that such information will be maintained in confidence and will be used only for official law enforcement purposes; or</text></item> <item id="idCC5D446A24AD484AAEAB42B85536DAC8"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>any officer or employee of any foreign law enforcement agency under the same circumstances that making material available to foreign law enforcement agencies is permitted under section 21(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/57b-2">15 U.S.C. 57b–2(b)</external-xref>).</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id830d87cef3d64af7adadeb9f8e9d7078"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Benefit of Antitrust Division</header><text>All FTC antitrust assets and FTC antitrust funding transferred under this subsection shall be for the exclusive use and benefit of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id712e4d10c53f41b189077e42bb4312af"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Transition period</header> <paragraph id="id0bb5d17b361943bab27060f5a6a59dff"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), beginning on the effective date, the Commission may not—</text>
<subparagraph id="iddfc2d3ccfb194865b5a487f9f374eca5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>hire or assign an employee to an FTC Antitrust Unit;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idee1d3251cb85493bbf56f9e6dcac56ad"><enum>(B)</enum><text>open a new investigation or matter within an FTC Antitrust Unit or relating to antitrust enforcement;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idbb96445d89594209a46dc673c6cbe9c6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>without the approval of the Assistant Attorney General, enter into a consent decree, enter into a settlement agreement, or otherwise resolve an FTC antitrust action; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id0241fdadc33541849c6328c1886980d0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>initiate a new FTC antitrust action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id534e78d270794bd88e440133a9eb2ecd"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Enforcement on behalf of the department of justice</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1), during the transition period, the Assistant Attorney General may deputize an FTC Antitrust Employee to investigate or prosecute an alleged violation of the antitrust laws on behalf of the Department of Justice before the completion of the transfer of personnel under subsection (a)(3).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id661662D18098450D965EFC4D568EA42F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Same rights and obligations</header> <subparagraph id="id8E26E6071FC44B35B0E3D45FC6129557"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the transition period all Department of Justice employees under the supervision of the Assistant Attorney General shall have the same rights and obligations with respect to confidential information submitted to the Commission as FTC antitrust employees on the day before the effective date.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id52FB6C9FA91B4563B6CFFFEB5F5A945E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this paragraph may be construed as implying any change to the rights and obligations described in subparagraph (A) as a result of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id358768ba48f640738e495126f39fc8b7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Agreements</header><text>The Assistant Attorney General, in consultation with the Chairman of the Commission, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id52ad25b1f7a64c21823d61f7abc64ec8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>review any agreements between the Commission and any other Federal agency or any foreign law enforcement agency; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id6d5aaf4f6b2d4f958baeea80fabd601b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>before the end of the transition period, seek to amend, transfer, or rescind such agreements as necessary and appropriate to carry out this title, endeavoring to complete such amendment, transfer, or rescindment with all due haste.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="idd3cb7b0b8da9447bb613969684d3f3c2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Rules</header><text>The Attorney General shall, pursuant to section 7A of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a</external-xref>) and in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, prescribe or amend any rules as necessary to carry out this title.</text></subsection></section> <section id="idCA293CF9C3C44129B348510D06294996"><enum>105.</enum><header>Removal of review authority from Federal Communications Commission and State entities</header> <subsection id="id145ec803bbc0420db1261e9af212ef3c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text>
<paragraph id="id8018A84D0A134BB7879D73CB848C45C6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>covered transaction</term> means any acquisition, assignment, or transfer of control of—</text> <subparagraph id="idAF63C8B28F64494686B326EA3D2D3BAE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any license, authorization, or line subject to the jurisdiction of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/151">47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idF5E988FC6EB9431FBEA2405209EDA119"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any authorization, certificate, franchise, or other instrument issued by a State commission or franchising authority; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idA068B08BB7B5407789F360D1AF206F2D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the terms <term>State commission</term> and <term>franchising authority</term> have the meanings given those terms in sections 3 and 602, respectively, of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/153">47 U.S.C. 153</external-xref>, 522).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id624D9ED04D69478994359FE4E68442AA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review of communications transactions</header>
<paragraph id="idBC17891C4F5A4E479D7AC463D9833B3E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Sole responsibility of Department of Justice</header><text>Notwithstanding any provision of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/151">47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.</external-xref>) or any law or regulation of a State or political subdivision thereof, the review of the competitive impact of any proposed covered transaction shall be solely the responsibility of the Department of Justice pursuant to the antitrust laws, and neither the Federal Communications Commission nor any State commission or franchising authority shall have any authority to conduct such review.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id5725B2BC5D864676AA68242F615A244C" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In reviewing the competitive impact of a proposed covered transaction, the Attorney General shall solicit and consider the views of the Federal Communications Commission.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id14adad01d2ce4995bf015887698c658d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application of public interest standards</header>
<paragraph id="id0AA2EB6C820A4B94A575ABAC2E12C63B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A determination of the Federal Communications Commission described in paragraph (2) with respect to a proposed covered transaction shall be limited to an assessment of whether the acquirer, assignee, or transferee meets the technical, financial, character, and citizenship qualifications that the Commission has prescribed by rule under the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/151">47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.</external-xref>) to hold that license, authorization, or line.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id8BA8535579E94B6D9B89AB77D224B269"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Determinations</header><text>A determination described in this paragraph is a determination pursuant to section 214(a) or 310(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/214">47 U.S.C. 214(a)</external-xref>, 310(d)) as to whether a proposed covered transaction would serve the public interest, without regard to whether the determination is phrased as whether the present or future public convenience and necessity require or will require the transaction or whether the public interest, convenience, and necessity will be served by the transaction. </text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="ide7b8ccb1daf0426cbbd124036ffa5f91"><enum>106.</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header>
<subsection id="id41c6adeb9cb2429e8fb9bad51828b82c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Clayton Act</header><text>The Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/12">15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idea67d7d1a9e24099b9d5b9fabfce54e8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 2 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/13">15 U.S.C. 13</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7b9d54a6e6194eed9b6855e7df8392ba"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Attorney General of the United States</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id59811dcd111a4f8595259d1cd1fc2a3f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by striking <quote>Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Attorney General of the United States</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida66ac0394f5f4b16a3f462e0f8d46a78"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 5(a) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/16">15 U.S.C. 16(a)</external-xref>), in the second sentence, by striking <quote>, except that, in any action or proceeding brought under the antitrust laws, collateral estoppel effect shall not be given to any finding made by the Federal Trade Commission under the antitrust laws or under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act which could give rise to a claim for relief under the antitrust laws</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id7164c5c11aaa46419f3d4f1c4864ea6b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 7 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18">15 U.S.C. 18</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id4e9ffa7fc5d741a2b3a14f1541c66781"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the first undesignated paragraph, by striking <quote>and no person subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission shall acquire the whole or any part of the assets of another person engaged also in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id071949aee94e45e289aa660659e6ac90"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the second undesignated paragraph, by striking <quote>and no person subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission shall acquire the whole or any part of the assets of one or more persons engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7ea81a48df4242e2bc0eb2b27c0e2270"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section 7A (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="id5439982cdd6e4872b2b490bbc4e685bc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text>
<clause id="idddabc7e417a04c1da1a67882ef7ae27c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission and</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="id0a4f1769caec415fa60f8c9f68f7a6e6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission and the</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id089a528f0225474da8a01e72b4022fad"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text> <clause id="id1125009eafeb4698ad3f367c32f67f1e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission and</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id0e3e761a38614a89be20d1ddd4ad0664"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission and</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id8a34c9282b0841659056a8f71c44914a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text>
<clause id="id1f52dafd908f4b6da13bef95d7770da7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission, with the concurrence of the Assistant Attorney General and</quote> and inserting <quote>Attorney General of the United States</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="id2944ab211d4d4527a36cc060092b25f9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission and</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ide0a95488624b4301a079a415853453a3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in subsection (e)—</text> <clause id="idd8d7e6ffa62247688c389121e76925c6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<subclause id="id767f18140d7f4cc6a4329408d933a02c"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission or the</quote>; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="id9d9cf9ff8810402b943145b3a34b2728"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and the Federal Trade Commission shall each</quote> and inserting <quote>shall</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="idfc6cd35596e940f5be71c7f492d0fdff"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text> <subclause id="id6a07ec5669b7470f878ddf41050c003e"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission or the</quote>;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id2dd222d335064a938a30f19cb0835dfd"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>its or’</quote>;</text></subclause> <subclause id="id8ec9e3ec6c87471ea1985af374479321"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission or</quote> each place the term appears; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id4e61efcaefe246469dc5ad60be5450de"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, as the case may be,</quote>;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idf44498593c59463aaf4083c92033c00f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in subsection (f)—</text>
<clause id="id0d0b5401896c47d3a4e19af5f9496b17"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission, alleging that a proposed acquisition violates section 7 of this Act or section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, or an action is filed by</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="id9ba61d67d01d4618a37e757b36cc5b07"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission or</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ide6401a74da504ff8b66d17db78687630"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in subsection (g)(2), in the matter following subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission or</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id6144df420a2243b1b1c1eff5b677f75b"><enum>(G)</enum><text>in subsection (h), by striking <quote>or the Federal Trade Commission</quote>; </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idd23bdf60847a4ebfa40f8cb023584be5"><enum>(H)</enum><text>in subsection (i)—</text> <clause id="id2090471268ff462bad91bdff8afee534"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>the Federal Trade Commission or</quote> each place the term appears; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id2f54fcee82574450a5e9057b71bef774"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ida5adfc643fae4aeb922ce83f4a4539a8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Federal Trade Commission</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id2c7ce90b211744f396c2f67c497cf37b"><enum>(J)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, the Federal Trade Commission Act,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id3aa70d5521f44905b7d58f208cff7846"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 8(a)(5) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/19">15 U.S.C. 19(a)(5)</external-xref>), in the second sentence, by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Attorney General of the United States</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id3f7c4036128543299aebab9164977895"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Charitable Gift Annuity Antitrust Relief Act of 1995</header><text>Section 3(1) of the Charitable Gift Annuity Antitrust Relief Act of 1995 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/37a">15 U.S.C. 37a(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>, except that such term includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>) to the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="idbb5f00f4295b421d9ce6b9ee2c4e3d05"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004</header><text>Section 207(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/37b">15 U.S.C. 37b(b)(1)(A)(i)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>, except that such term includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>) to the extent such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition</quote>.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="id31ce7336dd534430af619e65c50d73cd"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Federal Trade Commission Act</header><text>The Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/41">15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="ida3653227fd2b467f958009d5c74c6b50"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 5 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id07189d1a990c405fbf39c21f2b64da15"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text> <clause id="idddcefd23555041e3a41a98e7f4b184d1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>methods of competition in or affecting commerce, and unfair</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="id955fe2d3ca0542edbb353ac7b1d9d29d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3); and</text></clause> <clause id="id738bb8d779dd4a7aa1da0e43f88788f3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3);</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id86d1f736d15a4d8280d829ebd3b3569d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text> <clause id="idb4729e21833543178b5097da18ffa627"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>unfair method of competition or</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id464024fd179049d8ada2616342ed1529"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the fifth sentence—</text> <subclause id="idacedaf76b5b94b44851ae7149cea348b"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the method of competition or</quote>; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id914625e4a8974777aff2ab10c5b5139a"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>method of competition or such</quote>;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idd44734a6b6cb4ad383afe63bfcb1fa37"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text>
<clause id="id59ded989b9ee40b2b0577d22ca9ea9dc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the first sentence—</text> <subclause id="id72a6128db00540f1b2a269e19e97b22e"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>method of competition or</quote>; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id098b7a6a7e5d4038b922735478453135"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>method of competition or the</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="id8e1eedcc8d0e4f6c86dd53f7ddef6d36"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the third sentence, by striking <quote>or to competitors</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id4dd15d4039144deeb2a416a55c7ee06f"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking subsection (e);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id593529573a124f4f809018bdf30e294b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (4); and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id9b8f59f988d843c7b728f0f13bf6e6a1"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in subsection (n), in the first sentence, by striking <quote>or to competition</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id61c42de0363a4c2e8ba23b617ce1200d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 6 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/46">15 U.S.C. 46</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id3ca240393db240e5a4c5431a59bda0de"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subsections (c) through (e) and (i);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id28dcf360873e4d6480753dd2b95eb839"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating—</text>
<clause id="idb14367adb3be40b494008a771f6eefd2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subsections (f), (g), and (h) as subsections (c) through (e), respectively; and</text></clause> <clause id="idb04e71f2f69546a498ae1387db9076ef"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>subsections (j) through (l) as subsections (f) through (h), respectively;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id017e31178b2943b3a0c9b551dc45cc69"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (f)(1), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>other than Federal antitrust laws (as defined in section 12(5) of the International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6211">15 U.S.C. 6211(5)</external-xref>)),</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idefc834644b2842cda76ae9d04a8a03cc"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in subsection (h)(2), as so redesignated, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>or competition</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="iddc98359165814798b50a6e08143b70d8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by repealing section 7 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/47">15 U.S.C. 47</external-xref>);</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idb5582ea97b5b4b91a09ddb8fbb79d032"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section 11 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/51">15 U.S.C. 51</external-xref>), by striking <quote>antitrust Acts or the</quote> each place the term appears;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id32b1319f28e5446a838d77b3fa01c8f4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 18 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/57a">15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(2)</external-xref>), by striking the second sentence;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idddbc7d189c614669b50d1b3876f4b1fe"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in section 20 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/57b-1">15 U.S.C. 57b–1</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idc155274ba734429087bc81d75d60652c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text> <clause id="id2bc181285a69470daf3df751490f483d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>or in any antitrust violations</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="id8aa98e97a091478a82f2827d12fb6c2f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>or any provisions relating to antitrust violations</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="idfd7112b1feeb425a963a676c12ebd682"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in paragraph (7), by striking <quote>or any antitrust violation</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="ida2fc881f96744ddabd094ba0a2badc14"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (8);</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id5e99029cf6314897b6856c3120b58ed4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(1), by striking <quote>or to antitrust violations,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id6fd35811461a44b1b50dadc5bcf82cbc"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (j)(1), by striking <quote>, any proceeding under section 11(b) of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/21">15 U.S.C. 21(b)</external-xref>),</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idcbd53653d1584d2cb153dc5d7ac2c196"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in section 21(b)(6) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/57b-2">15 U.S.C. 57b–2(b)(6)</external-xref>), in the matter following subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>paragraphs (5) and (7)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraphs (4) and (6)</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id59d566f8f0914014b48ef189c24d16e9"><enum>(8)</enum><text>in section 21A (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/57b-2a">15 U.S.C. 57b–2a</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="id637522c13ff24cf8931dbf7b82766fc0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subsection (f);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id1b16b5fe75004f7d8f6d0c259b87d7e4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id232069f01dfb420486367dd55d7977af"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (f), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>subsection (g)</quote> each place the term appears and inserting <quote>subsection (f)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="iddf92f3b2c71a4b34999f2963c43e8b2a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in section 24 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/57b-5">15 U.S.C. 57b–5(a)</external-xref>), by striking <quote>for any conduct which, because of the provisions of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to authorize association of producers of agricultural products</quote>, approved February 18, 1922 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/291">7 U.S.C. 291 et seq.</external-xref>, commonly known as the Capper-Volstead Act), is not a violation of any of the antitrust Acts or this Act</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idf26ac7ff1fe54b0f99d003e8fa2fca29"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Webb-Pomerene Act</header><text>The Webb-Pomerene Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/61">15 U.S.C. 61 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id24e09b826e7d4d1bb8c0d213ca98e466"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by repealing section 4 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/64">15 U.S.C. 64</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id3f61e32407884e52877a48addd878eac"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 5—</text>
<subparagraph id="id7abfc0dcdbe74c53baf95a2575339276"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the first undesignated paragraph—</text> <clause id="id554cf98973e84dbfb71e532e3323e349"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Attorney General of the United States</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="ide05b49baf83d436ba6de1ef788abf255"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>commission</quote> each place the term appears and inserting <quote>Attorney General of the United States</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idc28b67e2a250493fb9bd800c0fe60219"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the second undesignated paragraph—</text>
<clause id="idecbb228f5ba3453f84b5f901aa701aff"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the first sentence, by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Attorney General of the United States</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="id9e905bdb15ba47b0b3097d1b477928e0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking the third sentence; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id76b7b3efea914805a0a84f877998136d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking the third undesignated paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id6bd60ae6f83741fbb240212f20921791"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939</header><text>The Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/68">15 U.S.C. 68 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id2dd56d3014d24f3db5d3f4b68363783a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>an unfair method of competition, and</quote> each place the term appears; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id797a0b6b553e4e318c6534c56fad8d27"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 68g(b), by striking <quote>an unfair method of competition and</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="idf52ee74005164390b6942d853d1eba02"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Fur Products Labeling Act</header><text>The Fur Products Labeling Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/69">15 U.S.C. 69 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>an unfair method of competition, and</quote> each place the term appears.</text></subsection> <subsection id="id832a0e30f89e4fa3accdad14f3b5b351"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Textile Fiber Products Identification Act</header><text>The Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/70">15 U.S.C. 70 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idef7d4e24de194bd28b723fc098987138"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>an unfair method of competition, and</quote> each place the term appears; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id01d87519571f4537b2862e82a03b448b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 3 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/70a">15 U.S.C. 70a</external-xref>), by striking <quote>an unfair method of competition and</quote> each place the term appears.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id433d28f575cc4d48b9a2f55e2fe863f4"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Antitrust Civil Process Act</header><text>Section 4(d) of the Antitrust Civil Process Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1313">15 U.S.C. 1313(d)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idaa5aff8f3b6c48baab87253924efdf1f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>(1) Whoever</quote> and inserting <quote>Whoever</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id55db8bedd6374adaacfde041db5d640c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (2).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id1ae2974c2de443f09b3430bccb74370c"><enum>(j)</enum><header>International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994</header><text>The International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6201">15 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idb54d719ec9514aa083032a190142f176"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 2 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6201">15 U.S.C. 6201</external-xref>), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>and the Federal Trade Commission</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idfcfc5c8483144ed5bcab397c8bc8991b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 3(b) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6202">15 U.S.C. 6202(b)</external-xref>), by striking <quote>and the Commission may, using their respective authority to investigate possible violations of the Federal antitrust laws,</quote> and inserting <quote>may</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7a260770015e4f278e4a456f02ff37cd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 5(1) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6204">15 U.S.C. 6204(1)</external-xref>), by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote> each place the term appears;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idf7c71964ab4d4097828f3ae18e1df47c"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section 6 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6205">15 U.S.C. 6205</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id0ab28f57c8ba49a09d68e0043863607f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idb3e3f1c26f8b413b8e6ff6c6f96e1ab3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>6(f)</quote> and inserting <quote>6(c)</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id19c2488c19e04b39a4cf0d4e20530d36"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 7 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6206">15 U.S.C. 6206</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="ideadf334d63604aecadd96b9a2de6578c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, with the concurrence of the Commission,</quote> each place the term appears; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idbd07d81fa5e24572b410783c164aab41"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking <quote>and the Commission</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idf8ead9427bdd44978cda3f972157e868"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in section 8 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6207">15 U.S.C. 6207</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6b5ef4ef648a47cbb13f69bf87cef640"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Neither the Attorney General nor the Commission may</quote> each place the term appears and inserting <quote>The Attorney General may not</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id7474bb5a30b94898939eb55ea6054c7d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking <quote>or the Commission, as the case may be,</quote>;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id40a28295de1643d7b83a9dcf2d32445a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idd3801138db0946c8ae409c5ee467f17b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text>
<clause id="id3ddb580171574a9f8615fa6a76d5b838"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="id1f4c8290d9da461293d9cad63b050302"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission, as the case may be,</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idee7b1a05fb8d4fe895eff2b963c38081"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in section 10 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6209">15 U.S.C. 6209</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="idb0b07388c64f4609bcc644d8624bde7c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<clause id="id65f3c8402fe74649b848a29cd45f5202"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, the Commission,</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="id54423937f9974893ac1fde5c14725ef3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(a) In General.—The</quote> and inserting <quote>The</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id689ae09fe2984487acf450613d7dcfa9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking subsection (b);</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id61e52282fe0f4ac6923552545c24c4b7"><enum>(8)</enum><text>in section 12 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6211">15 U.S.C. 6211</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idf438a7c2c3994078bb1cf66f7fb805e9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text> <clause id="id672d7025704a45b3a44abb0505986d46"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—</text>
<subclause id="idd4bf346429c04a6a85d1441040dd9d3a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and the Commission jointly determine</quote> and inserting <quote>determines</quote>;</text></subclause> <subclause id="id9fce8cf55e3d45699b60387b26aa4591"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>jointly</quote>; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id827b3f0cf5be4ef9bba1241a7dc6a312"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and the Commission</quote>;</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="idcae88fe4f4ea42acaf09462daf97c21f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text>
<subclause id="id7c4e9477f661481f9c8eb37fd4f115b4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and the Commission</quote> each place the term appears; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="id357fe6d4ee5f4b818191210d80e4f53c"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>provide</quote> and inserting <quote>provides</quote>;</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="id5d55637cf14f480fade3c21b280dedf7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E)(ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking <quote>or the Commission, as the case may be,</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="idf7517503386846c58f1e67dcf6967f82"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F)—</text>
<subclause id="id4d9d6888ba4642cbb2457e841225debc"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote>; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="id2606fa9cb0714a20bd33b0fbfbd9f20e"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission, respectively,</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="id5aa55b6a5ac046b589a59aaec8349dd5"><enum>(v)</enum><text>in subparagraph (H)—</text> <subclause id="ide368e6c2c32b486dad3c88114a71d16a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (i)—</text>
<item id="idf2063a3f11a941b9a32a1b9252f69dbd"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote>; and</text></item> <item id="id1482037d173a425caffbedac2355d6f7"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission, respectively,</quote>; and</text></item></subclause>
<subclause id="id64def7143aed4f91841da4cc7ed1d1d6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote> each place the term appears;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="ide61085e1029f45b2964e1837872e4d2f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (4);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id3303fb1b2c9d42649b5f64ccb62b4cdc"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) as paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id33e58314e9a14da5ae57b03e2eb989f0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>but also includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>) to the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idcdb3b58c338a4c7da982e4197e8e05d5"><enum>(9)</enum><text>in section 13 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/6212">15 U.S.C. 6212</external-xref>)—</text> <subparagraph id="id670327ef472645b5bd85d75323add5df"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and the Commission are</quote> and inserting <quote>is</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idcf19aa7041d94606bd7facc16b116eb2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>or the Commission, respectively,</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id248d8c83764041fb8ce4ad6b6845d627"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003</header><text>Subtitle B of title XI of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/173">Public Law 108–173</external-xref>; 117 Stat. 2461) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id006f9b9f84c943cfbff6f48940f6cdbd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the subtitle heading, by striking <quote>Federal Trade Commission</quote> and inserting <quote>Antitrust</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id235552bea87f41c49ca792ec7ecab1a4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 1111 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/355">21 U.S.C. 355</external-xref> note)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id04c27c6fed6b410488735bb3b58642e9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (8); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id09ddf8e99edf4aa38660f425b431a688"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (12) as paragraphs (8) through (11), respectively;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id396391ec9ee94d3589527f6b8c10152e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 1112(c) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/355">21 U.S.C. 355</external-xref> note), by striking <quote>and the Commission</quote> each place the term appears;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idc49e813f9187432aafc34adff2fbffc0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section 1113 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/355">21 U.S.C. 355</external-xref> note), by striking <quote>and the Commission</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id12e114d9be584ed5b664dd6402f25b39"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 1114 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/355">21 U.S.C. 355</external-xref> note), by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1a5f04413b234a169bde2a4a252580b5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in section 1115 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/355">21 U.S.C. 355</external-xref> note)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6280323e803d4a038fd14fbd9d1890a7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking <quote>, or brought by the Commission in accordance with the procedures established in section 16(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/56">15 U.S.C. 56(a)</external-xref>)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id87c8cc2036eb4b6f888fe1681534d464"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7ed4b3232bf449fbac433b0da1b567bd"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in section 1116 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/355">21 U.S.C. 355</external-xref> note), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Commission, with the concurrence of the Assistant Attorney General</quote> and inserting <quote>Attorney General</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id2b38094acd2d4c3eb05fdce70799ee72"><enum>(8)</enum><text>in section 1117 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/21/355">21 U.S.C. 355</external-xref> note), by striking <quote>or the Commission</quote> each place the term appears.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id8ad6a25ea0934c758111ad287cc5269e"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Other laws</header><text>For any other provision of law requiring the Assistant Attorney General or the Attorney General to consult with or seek the concurrence of the Commission or the Chairman of the Commission, where such requirement relates to the antitrust laws or unfair methods of competition under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/45">15 U.S.C. 45</external-xref>), as in effect on the day before the effective date, that requirement shall be waived.</text></subsection></section> <section id="ide166740850514b5ba642e441f0d69d96" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>107.</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Except where explicitly provided otherwise, this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect on the start of the first fiscal year that is at least 90 days after the date of enactment of this title.</text></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Mergers</header>
<section id="idf7f0149b164043deac5cd6df99986053"><enum>201.</enum><header>Premerger notification filing fees</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 605 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/101/162">Public Law 101–162</external-xref> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a</external-xref> note) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="id0b22dfb3e3874c6caffa8ec47064da5c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id5760ea590b1c4c46abf45e176b570fd5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text> <clause id="idd1daffceab6f41de8fcad18a53bf18f5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$45,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$30,000</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="idb9911f556d6e4a0aaa6511916c4ae03b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$100,000,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$161,500,000</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="id88af405c1b55411e9715fe8544f394a4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2004</quote> and inserting <quote>2022</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id5623a2641929471ba741cf2aea71dbb7"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2003</quote> and inserting <quote>2021</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id7c78fb6d46bb4ced942c1107a851565a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text>
<clause id="id0948adc5ad2c4f1182e0563069b57fe8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$125,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$100,000</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="idef962e6b5a0645f3948672d54a795867"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$100,000,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$161,500,000</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="iddb697c0cb0514ba4977f6fd4ba774854"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>but less</quote> and inserting <quote>but is less</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="id09f335c4c4ba4ca688fb919abd1b37de"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id0d7acb727a8044528b3ef61f2c5067eb"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text> <clause id="id09b93388be2e47d59cfef69131a5131d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>$280,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$250,000</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id854a6598eb7f42208aec1ea8d7f3cfc7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>but is less than $1,000,000,000 (as so adjusted and published);</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id4f07a279bf6645b28af0f28b5e839cc0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd48626582c584e3081b34316321e4404">
<paragraph id="id809cbb6154ae48ad9ce6ae7651acd5d7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$400,000 if the aggregate total amount determined under section 7A(a)(2) of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a(a)(2)</external-xref>) is not less than $1,000,000,000 (as so adjusted and published) but is less than $2,000,000,000 (as so adjusted and published);</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id949f278b15dc469ab7cfbca0f8a7a5f9"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$800,000 if the aggregate total amount determined under section 7A(a)(2) of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a(a)(2)</external-xref>) is not less than $2,000,000,000 (as so adjusted and published) but is less than $5,000,000,000 (as so adjusted and published); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id6f8851a76e1641a69990db73adcd5d68"><enum>(6)</enum><text>$1,250,000 if the aggregate total amount determined under section 7A(a)(2) of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a(a)(2)</external-xref>) is not less than $5,000,000,000 (as so adjusted and published).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id2bc2348544dd484cbb9133cf50ffdb77"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="idf030b8b7c7d847d7809a166813a1d1ee" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idf592de6670384737a738c5dbfc00433b"><enum>(c)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id5235ab145b49425483c7406610d574db"><enum>(1)</enum><text>For each fiscal year commencing after September 30, 2022, the filing fees in this section shall be increased each year by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Gross National Product of the United States, as determined by the Department of Labor or its successor, for the year then ended over the level so established for the year ending September 30, 2021.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idfcffd4391fd94c4a8ec9258620c0d42b" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>As soon as practicable, but not later than January 31 of each year, the Attorney General shall publish the adjusted amounts required by paragraph (1).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id89dfd72315f6462693d9a1fb0f74f3c4" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Attorney General shall not adjust amounts required by paragraph (1) if the percentage increase described in paragraph (1) is less than 1 percent.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id5ae2840347b2423db347dcad11ede234" indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An amount adjusted under this section shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $5,000.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="idbf115a4c061949ba906ebdf9dd94f0cc"><enum>202.</enum><header>Merger presumptions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7 of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18">15 U.S.C. 18</external-xref>), as amended by section 106 of this Act, is amended— </text> <paragraph id="idCDFFB5EDE893427CA6F61F67729D7DCE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking all that proceeds <quote>person engaged in commerce</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6B80EDA432EF4ACBBCDFC2E50B08526B">
<section id="idC5C07A3D80A149D69FF183ED35590EFA"><enum>7.</enum><header>Acquisition by one corporation of stock of another</header>
<subsection id="id44DCCBFB04E54D858FF6F72CFB3502FA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="idF38F6CBFB768411E8958704C78A9CE24"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>No person shall acquire,</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDFDE869F279A459AAF3EBD335200E745">
<subsection id="id7438E0DDED2A462BBC479C14AA0BB1C8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Acquisition of persons engaged in commerce</header><text>No person shall acquire</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="idE5DC8DB679854B63ABAFDFE0B0530C81"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking <quote>This section shall not apply</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA2747A24F5744F2F9562561507FF3BBD">
<subsection id="idFA6AD9420B23464687BA6969B4964F64"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Not lessening competition</header><text>This section shall not apply</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="id7F628E3DEAF44E999442E3FE9833AF08"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Nor shall anything herein</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCD9A9CD1131A49CB90560F215A98FDA7">
<subsection id="idCDF7F847620F4436AA2E050673765682"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Common carriers</header><text>Nor shall anything herein</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="id022D8271B0D64305B4F51949E93CBB38"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Nothing contained in this section shall be held</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id76E80973023B4F2DB9D0B2B0B77B7491">
<subsection id="id248F71126B4E48B8847949EDE03CCC31"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Hold harmless</header><text>Nothing contained in this section shall be held</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="idF3983123A0AB4635914CDA6FB81A2B2C"><enum>(6)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Nothing contained in this section shall apply to transactions</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0481C6BF4CEC487D9C0AA33A6CD23BEF">
<subsection id="idF324987AEC2F48388CA9C608C6B67224"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Certain transactions</header><text>Nothing contained in this section shall apply to transactions</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="id106180782F3447DDB07872F3A3165621"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (b), as so designated by this section, the following:</text>
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<subsection id="id41865CF0C27848DB810BF3CA211DD19D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Actions by United States</header>
<paragraph id="idB0BE5C4E580947BFA90336B52EDC1040"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States may initiate a proceeding to enjoin a transaction prohibited by this section.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id666B94E86CC24344A6A927018C9BACB2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rebuttable presumptions</header> <subparagraph id="idF5D98AF1BBF74DCF899A73120BC89F75"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In a proceeding initiated by the United States to enjoin a transaction prohibited by this section, it shall be presumed that the effect of a transaction may be substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly, if—</text>
<clause id="ida25761c5737a4a10aa0439160351effb"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the United States shows by a preponderance of the evidence that, as a result of the transaction, the combined firm would be able meaningfully to increase prices or reduce output, innovation, or quality in a market; or</text></clause> <clause id="id00BFD1FE69F64C6BAD516E818DD5EADF"><enum>(ii)</enum> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idDBF00AB8EE3C49FDA7A2D773626F4094"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the transaction would combine persons that compete, would compete, or would attempt to compete against each other, absent the transaction; and</text></subclause>
<subclause indent="up1" id="idAEA38BB9F4024568B8D64D53025ACE47"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the combined firm would have a post-transaction share of the market that— </text> <item id="id9BE53C69C2074FE297130608375CC23A"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>is greater than 33 percent; or </text></item>
<item id="id70C6C7908097411D8BAF59DD54099CFE"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>if the acquiring person is owned or controlled by a foreign government, is greater than 5 percent.</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id9215C14D4B974185A5FEBC660C3C4D29"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Rebuttal</header><text>A defendant may rebut a presumption under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) only if the defendant demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that—</text>
<clause id="idFBEBF61CE94E48CDB6E6396CA9883B99"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the combined parties post-transaction would not be able to exercise market power; or</text></clause> <clause id="id5F36D16ADDC74D39B51407225208D382"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the anticompetitive effects of the transaction— </text>
<subclause id="id9C67BB7A51944E92A9E4856622BF5527"><enum>(I)</enum><text>are insubstantial; or </text></subclause> <subclause id="idABFA0436B13748B891287143DFF253A3"><enum>(II)</enum><text>are clearly outweighed by the procompetitive benefits of the transaction in the relevant market.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id23856600C4EF40FB955A5801DAD32710"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>The presumptions under clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) shall not limit any other presumption courts have created or used or may create or use in resolving cases under this section. </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id44032E438DC14669A1495E505A135A5B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Irrebuttable presumption</header><text>In a proceeding initiated by the United States to enjoin a transaction prohibited by this section, except to the extent the transaction is necessary to prevent serious harm to the national economy, the effect of a transaction shall be deemed to substantially to lessen competition, or to tend to create a monopoly, if—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2CBC0D6EE92942FDAE6F9742C48FB14B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the transaction would combine persons that compete, would compete, or would attempt to compete against each other absent the transaction; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idFB9CEDB3A40A47F3842F0EED199FDE43"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the combined firm would have a post-transaction share of the market that is greater than 66 percent.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="id238153E4C17B49CF8815689317197261"><enum>203.</enum><header>Merger notification requirements</header>
<subsection id="id01F0F32ED45E4750A1EBA17876DE686F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7A(a)(2) of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a(a)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idE4191E8EED31425E91A1494C58F25850"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subclause (III) of subparagraph (B)(ii) as item (bb); </text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id44402C1E616B48509299A6027941C365"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(ii)(I) any voting</quote> and all that follows through <quote>(II) any voting securities or assets of a person not engaged in manufacturing</quote> and inserting <quote>(II)(aa) any voting securities or assets of a person</quote>; </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id315E2DB9EE6042BDB0C1C69B38683ABA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(B)(i) in excess</quote> and inserting <quote>(ii)(I) in excess</quote>; </text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idF5E874B356444C3FAB416A48A1A666CB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(A) in excess</quote> and inserting <quote>(i) in excess</quote>; </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id45EB80778C794BC3BE4721C0099C6587"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(A)</quote> after <quote>(2)</quote>; </text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id0244F3294DAD4C56A554EA67228D036F"><enum>(6)</enum><text>by striking <quote>published) or more.</quote> and inserting <quote>published) or more; or</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1EA46107F00447919AB16FF9A9AEDBE6"><enum>(7)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, the following:</text>
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<subparagraph id="id630FF01B0A414C6AA5E567BEDAFDD026" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>except with respect to an acquisition made solely for the purpose of investment, the acquiring person—</text> <clause id="idA19AF846E2714B749C7D0B61217181A5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>has assets in excess of $500,000,000,000; or</text></clause>
<clause id="id14A1E9BA65D443DD9642B9937F0AAFFF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is owned or controlled by a foreign government.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idF03CEA6D8F8343A0BBF155D89F81B55E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Repeal of limited nexus to commerce in the United States exception</header> <paragraph id="id6D95C9529A3E4D8E9B19F557148D8EB8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Attorney General shall amend sections 802.50 and 802.51 of title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, and any other rule or regulation, to repeal any exception from filing a notification under subsection (a) of section 7A of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a</external-xref>) or from the waiting period described in subsection (b)(1) of such section with respect to an acquisition on the basis that the acquisition has a limited nexus with the United States. </text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id4B6989734F674D2BB8E65F4C2E4E4F1C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The Assistant Attorney General may not promulgate or enforce any rule that excludes from the requirements under section 7A of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18a">15 U.S.C. 18a</external-xref>) any acquisition by or of a person engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce on the basis that the acquisition has a limited nexus with the United States.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <enum>III</enum><header>Competition policy</header> <section id="idC1E4E2BE55DB478295BD4B8BEAC5BB7B"><enum>301.</enum><header>Competitive impact statement</header> <subsection id="idCA0028F43F674E7E91853A6DC22E2577"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id36B864EF171A495BBA9460D74AC01C80"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text>The term <term>Administrator</term> means the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id9540EE51EB4840948E75EF5AA46FF377"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agency; significant regulatory action</header><text>The terms <term>agency</term> and <term>significant regulatory action</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Executive Order.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idD4854C2D9B5C4C99BD9794F82BB9DB7E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Executive Order</header><text>The term <term>Executive Order</term> means Executive Order 12866 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/601">5 U.S.C. 601</external-xref> note; relating to regulatory planning and review).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id957126E68C3D488B84029F17FBAF233D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In reviewing a significant regulatory action of an agency in accordance with the Executive Order, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to the agency a competitive impact statement that—</text>
<paragraph id="idB49EBCCECDEA4ED0947142C196A625CA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifies any way in which the significant regulatory action may impact or harm competition in the market to which the significant regulatory action applies; and </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idA437EE65CEF44AB2822393711278297E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provides guidance on how the significant regulatory could be revised to minimize the impact or harm to competition in that market.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="id393E8863C4AF48469DBEFD0B93A974FD"><enum>302.</enum><header>Written explanations of enforcement and non-enforcement actions</header>
<subsection id="id37AA0D6BBC93447AA361426C0382CA7D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Attorney General shall prepare and preserve a written explanation of any decision by the Federal Government not to file a civil action under the antitrust laws after the use of compulsory process by the Federal Government.</text></subsection> <subsection id="id96DCC004DE9E428A9C98907267AE5017"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability to Congress</header><text>Upon request by any Member of Congress, the Assistant Attorney General shall make available an unredacted version of a written explanation described in subsection (a). A Member of Congress shall not disclose an unredacted version of a written explanation received under this subsection. </text></subsection>
<subsection id="idE65295BF0EAE4BA5B2F2DB181A0A0561"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Public availability</header>
<paragraph id="id49DB7DA090384092950B1B0A567A2308" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Attorney General shall make a written explanation described in subsection (a) publicly available if all subjects of the investigation have acknowledged the existence of the investigation. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id4C069ED95A1E44BAAF71976084BB4F3F" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other availability</header><text>A written explanation described in subsection (a) may be disclosed in accordance with the procedures and limitations under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Freedom of Information Act</quote>), or any other applicable provision of law. </text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id11FEB42C5F844F189DDC3D94F598EACC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Redaction</header><text>Information in a written explanation described in subsection (a) that is made publicly available shall be redacted to protect confidential or competitively sensitive information, which may include the identities of the subjects of the investigation when appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="id9f46548e071046fbaa78dcbb18ffa04b"><enum>303.</enum><header>Studies</header> <subsection id="id9DC8BD59E52744AF963465F0D4CF7F3A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Institutional investors</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Attorney General, in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall conduct and publish a study, using any compulsory process reasonably necessary, relying on public data and information if available and sufficient, and incorporating public comment, on—</text>
<paragraph id="id563cabe4f53a4501ae317fe03cce3e74"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the extent to which an institutional investor or related institutional investors have ownership or control interests in competitors in moderately concentrated or concentrated markets;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idb05528b7422145c0925c16be9e428b09"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the economic impacts of such overlapping ownership or control; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id6b591bc567c64f89bc985ac50f8742f1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the mechanisms by which an institutional investor could affect competition among the companies in which it invests and whether such mechanisms are prevalent. </text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id56142A7173724C65BAEBB4498C98C499"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Self-Preferencing by digital platforms</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Attorney General shall conduct and publish a study, using any compulsory process reasonably necessary, relying on public data and information if available and sufficient, and incorporating public comment, on self-preferencing by digital platforms. </text></subsection>
<subsection id="id0d1e7f4216d4463b897ad978709c937f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technology merger retrospective</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Attorney General shall— </text> <paragraph id="id70B26DB710D74C138476914FA8F5B003"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a retrospective analysis of mergers involving technology companies completed during the 15-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idCF15B12DABFB4326A931B43C46D799EA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>publish a report of the findings of the analysis, which shall include an analysis of the adequacy of any enforcement actions or settlement agreements regarding such mergers.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="idcefc37a56eee4178a0fabb45443e804c"><enum>304.</enum><header>Monopsony guidelines</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Assistant Attorney General shall publicly issue guidelines regarding how the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice analyzes and approaches a matter involving a monopsony under the antitrust laws. </text></section>
<enum>IV</enum><header>Restoring board immunity</header>
<section id="id867D3160A25D4904858DDFF0203E6F48" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Restoring Board Immunity Act of 2021</short-title></quote> or the <quote><short-title>RBI Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="idf71db74847c64bc38b8926132641388d"><enum>402.</enum><header>Statement of findings and purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress finds the following:</text>
<paragraph id="ide7113b673a69492ea63d0c848d4467ef"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The prevalence of occupational licensing has increased dramatically in recent decades, in part because private interests have sought licensing in order to limit competition.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idf43a4704018e46779555f7e0b854b3e9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Occupational licensing often limits opportunities for workers, frustrates entrepreneurs seeking to introduce new business models, and raises prices paid by consumers.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idc1f1f118bc1f4b60a6a1d60d06ea0a85"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Licensing should be imposed only to combat real, substantial threats to public health, safety, or welfare and only where other less restrictive regulatory alternatives are insufficient to protect consumers and serve the public interest.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id54c59989747448f889f2719a20cdb2e1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Regulators should consider a range of less restrictive alternatives before enacting an occupational licensing regime, which may include inspections, bonding or insurance requirements, registration, and voluntary certification.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7b4bce07ecc44d93ab72e049d2b674aa"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Voluntary certification provides a particularly significant alternative to licensure, as it allows market participants to signal to consumers the attainment of personal qualifications without limiting entry into the marketplace.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id25f337ca8ab544e598997f0f5d0472ae"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The failure of State governments to adopt less restrictive alternatives to licensing, and less burdensome requirements in those areas where licensing is deemed necessary, has resulted in significant costs to consumers and the broader economy.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf754280366de4d92955a1be73b6d54ba"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The United States Supreme Court responded to these concerns in North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners v. FTC, 135 S. Ct. 1101 (2015), holding that self-interested licensing boards may be subject to liability under the antitrust laws, but that decision has also created significant uncertainty for the States and their licensing boards.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idbe21d1761f0143eda2e35cc96edb6350"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Some States have responded to the decision in North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners by establishing a layer of bureaucratic oversight that merely monitors board actions for consistency with State licensing laws. This response is a missed opportunity for reform, as it does not address the specific competition concern raised in North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners or the underlying problems with over-reliance on occupational licensure as a regulatory approach and with overly broad enforcement of licensing laws as a means to regulate commercial activities outside an occupation’s scope of practice.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida3fd26ed07114ace9562917d864d61f3"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Legislation is necessary to clarify the requirements of active supervision, both to offer States a clear and certain mechanism to immunize their occupational boards and to make clear that mere bureaucratic oversight to ensure consistency with State licensing laws does not suffice to confer immunity.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="ide973e1655d95477496c8fd69d09b72cc"><enum>(10)</enum><text>This title is intended to offer States a choice between two alternative routes to achieve immunity for their occupational licensing boards—either establishing a mechanism for meaningful active supervision of licensing boards by State officials or establishing a mechanism for meaningful judicial review of board actions in the State courts.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="id0d62a708af954af08f9336dcd13fa141"><enum>403.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text> <paragraph id="idef0a457ec9dc489fae2d7c94511018af"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Certification</header><text>The term <term>certification</term> means a voluntary program under which—</text>
<subparagraph id="id5c6fdfde923547cca4f2fa9d2f9e45a1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a private organization (in the case of private certification) or the government of a State (in the case of government certification) authorizes an individual who meets certain personal qualifications to use <quote>certified</quote> as a designated title with respect to the performance of a lawful occupation; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id9d7fa9c878e1400fb3daf57581a4faf4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a non-certified individual may perform the lawful occupation for compensation but may not use the title <quote>certified</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idaf06a052ce0d4f069d3a236629bfb4e9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Good faith</header><text>The term <term>good faith</term>, with respect to performance—</text> <subparagraph id="id54A5EF11F9BA47EE98478C6BD536B617"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means diligent performance that is directed towards achieving the policies set forth in this title;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id5A0F115BA7894B119DD1424371230378"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include performance that is—</text> <clause id="id24EE5BA54CF94CB38EBD3028CFED71DC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>designed to subvert or evade the policies set forth in this title; or</text></clause>
<clause id="id5D3722A679DA46EDB2C97D271D8E4D06"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>carried out in a manner that has the systematic effect of subverting or evading the policies set forth in this title; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id6F24E9BE934A40F2BC082CD3B0B3904B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>refers to an objective, rather than subjective, standard.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idb46b039c454a412c9c805f383e364902"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Lawful occupation</header><text>The term <term>lawful occupation</term> means a course of conduct, pursuit, or profession that includes the sale of goods or services that are not themselves illegal to sell irrespective of whether the individual selling the goods or services is subject to occupational licensing laws.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="ide9ea6f7cd6ac4bf8a6342c182b7ca0c6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Least restrictive regulation</header><text>The term <term>least restrictive regulation</term> means, from least to most restrictive:</text>
<subparagraph id="id08a48930fa1c44b3a20499deb5c7c8bc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>One or more of the following, each of which shall be considered equally restrictive:</text> <clause id="idf3ec083ae5864a25ad743157d10232eb"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Market competition.</text></clause>
<clause id="idc10f297892164c3db636a72725e6c5fa"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Industry or consumer-related ratings and reviews.</text></clause> <clause id="id1e8f12e4499c4d9c8d8a1798aaebc70b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Private certification.</text></clause>
<clause id="id0b17f983e7df4ef4abe3ab8f702a6daf"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>A specific private civil cause of action to remedy consumer harm.</text></clause> <clause id="id5015c0af518042c791b879fa3b00518c"><enum>(v)</enum><text>A deceptive trade practice act.</text></clause>
<clause id="id0a071f176ab44147acdc6e4620542a02"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>A regulation of the process of providing the specific goods or services to consumers.</text></clause> <clause id="id4f0ce220c12c489cb1ec3178c22541c4"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Inspections.</text></clause>
<clause id="idb1068a5cc15945eabcc392597705e44e"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>Bonding or insurance.</text></clause> <clause id="id2fd9dc6009cd4e468ab0a010779be4b7"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>Registration.</text></clause>
<clause id="id32c56de9ee2a424d9960c65b7cc503c8"><enum>(x)</enum><text>Government certification.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id1a6ae879cb6940eba384683985b2ea9d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id68cf33905e9743af8cc7e7aa58916b81"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Occupational license.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="ide2cd9265c2d240238b178dbc96a2ca6b"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Less restrictive alternatives to occupational licensing</header><text>The term <term>less restrictive alternatives to occupational licensing</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="idbb00e4c6605c49448a4ec13d6fa79d0c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means regulations that achieve the public health or safety goals asserted by the government to justify licensing while imposing a less onerous restriction on entry into the marketplace; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="iddeb2bc435ffa4955b9c9357c839794ea"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes the alternative forms of regulation described in paragraph (4)(A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf1992ae246b0499fb07135cb65abd846"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Member, officer, or employee</header><text>The term <term>member, officer, or employee</term>, with respect to an occupational licensing board, means an individual appointed by a State to the board.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id13a55a4a55ad4264bee25ed812010422"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Occupational license</header><text>The term <term>occupational license</term> means a nontransferable authorization under law for an individual to perform a lawful occupation for compensation based on meeting personal qualifications established by the State government.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf9a6894fee3b4340ac295a699999c387"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Occupational licensing board</header><text>The term <term>occupational licensing board</term> or <term>board</term> means an entity established under State law—</text> <subparagraph id="idcb8fa0043b734f1fb16a11fd7f169126"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the express purpose of which is to regulate the personal qualifications required to engage in or practice a particular lawful occupation;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id9b3545589fc54bec9da79cc7e45876ad"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that has authority conferred by State law to interpret or enforce the occupational licensing laws of the State; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id335a60506d624c769acfdd883f9ceea8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>not less than <fraction>2/3</fraction> of the members of which are appointed by an elected official of the State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ided93e51abbc748f190ce4cc550f65739"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Occupational licensing law</header><text>The term <term>occupational licensing law</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="idb29168fad2c8428ca07a2b5e0d6d5aa8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means a State statute that allows an individual to work in a lawful occupation and use an occupational title; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id83f1ff72d0d44bcface562167d74d89f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not include a business license, facility license, building permit, or zoning and land use regulation, except to the extent that the law regulates an individual’s personal qualifications to engage in or practice a lawful occupation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id60b6834d07ae49098def5f13a6705ad1"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Occupational regulation</header><text>The term <term>occupational regulation</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="id0605542e657c4cc8b31e26b149e3566a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>means a statute, rule, practice, policy, or other law that substantially burdens an individual’s ability to work in a lawful occupation;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id68adf99475a7456dbf5e94313470ba33"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes a regulation requiring registration, certification, or an occupational license; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb35d2aed76684e729cfa72cf3759e4ee"><enum>(C)</enum><text>does not include a business license, facility license, building permit, or zoning and land use regulation except to the extent that such a requirement or restriction substantially burdens an individual’s ability to work in a lawful occupation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idcd8956b0a42d446aae5f366288b33e29"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Personal qualifications</header><text>The term <term>personal qualifications</term> means criteria related to an individual’s personal background and characteristics, including completion of an approved educational program, satisfactory performance on an examination, work experience, other evidence of attainment of requisite skills or knowledge, moral standing, criminal history, and completion of continuing education.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7995d414294d44968124709a0e8b054d"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Registration</header><text>The term <term>registration</term> means a requirement that an individual give notice to the government of a State that may include—</text> <subparagraph id="id9d9407de710747e5a694e76d94a4fcce"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the individual’s name and address;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idc6d6728ca2fc45229f1192f32e187d52"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the individual’s agent for service of process;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="iddd55a23ce4c24149ad86889af4d3bf41"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the location of the activity to be performed; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ida416f8721b05461b9b2ae0ad5a3c037e"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a description of the service the individual provides.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1d050f0974bd4a85bee30c92d5d04956"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement</header><text>The term <term>specialty occupational license for medical reimbursement</term> means a nontransferable authorization in law for an individual to qualify for payment or reimbursement from a government agency for the non-exclusive provision of medical services based on meeting personal qualifications established by the State legislature.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id8c2bdfdd55ec413ab4150c92b7030c1d"><enum>(14)</enum><header>State</header><text>The term <term>State</term> means—</text> <subparagraph id="ida5e45f45fa7947448929fc5a50151d95"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each of the several States; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idd904b23acb934878a2136863c5427b1d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the District of Columbia.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section> <section id="id26c2530e4e504157bc347048f375ae5d"><enum>404.</enum><header>Antitrust immunity</header> <subsection id="id2dcb7e31097147b09a69b477d762d184"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), the Sherman Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1">15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.</external-xref>) shall not apply to any action of an occupational licensing board of a State, or any action of a member, officer, or employee of the board acting in the official capacity of that member, officer, or employee, if—</text>
<paragraph id="id9f6bb0974d0e4ef081245f6475ab154d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the requirements under section 405 of this title are satisfied; or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="iddb075e8125e4477088487ea8cc90bcce"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the requirements under section 406 of this title are satisfied.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id1afa6e55796b496e811610163dd71ade"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement of good faith</header><text>The immunity provided under subsection (a) shall not apply to any action of an occupational licensing board of a State, or any action of a member, officer, or employee of the board acting in the official capacity of that member, officer, or employee, unless the State acts in good faith to perform the applicable requirements under section 405 or 406 of this title.</text></subsection> <subsection id="id8d26508456b2465f8adab5b585a949f2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Existing entities or procedures</header><text>The fact that a State governmental entity or procedure was established before the date of enactment of this Act shall not prevent an occupational licensing board of the State, or a member, officer, or employee of that board, from qualifying for immunity under subsection (a) if the State governmental entity or procedure satisfies the applicable requirements under section 405 or 406 of this title.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="id08f595e7873f4cba9281b35fb829cc2b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>The immunity provided under subsection (a) shall not apply to an action unrelated to regulating the personal qualifications required to engage in or practice a lawful occupation, such as rules of an occupational licensing board governing minimum prices or residency requirements.</text></subsection></section> <section id="idcbc775941bc847cd8672a12bf94dcbca"><enum>405.</enum><header>Active supervision</header> <subsection id="id6d2f28645fe048f9bfa41fc7f9e78a95"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The immunity under section 404(a) shall apply to any action of an occupational licensing board of a State, or any action of a member, officer, or employee of that board acting in the official capacity of that member, officer, or employee, if—</text>
<paragraph id="id189a56bc5cb445cc8aac16b0607ce065"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the actions of the occupational licensing board or member, officer, or employee are authorized by a non-frivolous interpretation of the occupational licensing laws of the State;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1d06ffbb73894970ae319cc67504a933"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the State adopts a policy of using less restrictive alternatives to occupational licensing to address real, substantial threats to public health, safety, or welfare, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id51b01eabed744b1288ba1362004334d0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the State enacts legislation providing for active supervision of the actions of an occupational licensing board and any member, officer, or employee of such a board, in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="ida7fd963d7b8b4fbfb93160c9aaa6435e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>The State shall adopt a policy providing that—</text>
<paragraph id="idb3eaf3753cc943c9abc0dfaf9c220630"><enum>(1)</enum><text>occupational licensing laws should be construed and applied to—</text> <subparagraph id="idBCA2C32CF5BB4D45BDDE54CD83A3C242"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protect public health, safety, and welfare; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id124A6D7804734545B151052E4B3FCB53"><enum>(B)</enum><text>increase economic opportunity, promote competition, and encourage innovation;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="id767b28bb86e042c889c9543cb6279ffa"><enum>(2)</enum><text>regulators should displace competition through occupational licensing laws only if less restrictive alternatives to occupational licensing will not suffice to protect consumers from real, substantial threats to public health, safety, or welfare; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id246ca3166ea84684a93ff486872db3e0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an occupational licensing law should be enforced against an individual only to the extent the individual sells goods or services that are included explicitly in the statute or regulation that defines the occupation’s scope of practice.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="idf6d88d9ad046402fb51f99e388845e93"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Active supervision</header> <paragraph id="id0A1FB60832BF4FE1972D64382CD20819"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The legislation enacted under subsection (a)(3) shall satisfy each of the requirements under this subsection.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id0be07a4075eb408393543f5d05e6fb2b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Day-to-day supervision</header>
<subparagraph id="id419F5725CF424E9695C6563AEB8B889A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Establishment of Office of Supervision of Occupational Boards</header><text>The State shall establish an Office of Supervision of Occupational Boards (referred to in this subsection as the <term>Office</term>) to review the actions of occupational licensing boards to ensure compliance with the policy adopted under subsection (b).</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="idAAB33D859B6B451AA9D3E68D11411BFE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Office shall—</text>
<clause id="id9fa4d0bf03c3431f80e204165b5d8f6e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>review and explicitly approve or reject in writing any occupational regulation proposed by an occupational licensing board before the board may adopt or implement the occupational regulation;</text></clause> <clause id="id99b21d2220124407a7991dde8be72d2f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>play a substantial role in the development of a board’s rules and policies to ensure they benefit consumers and do not serve the private interests of providers of goods and services regulated by the board;</text></clause>
<clause id="id6f038cdbab3842f69420b81e8dcb15f6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>disapprove in writing the use of any board rule or policy relating to an occupational regulation and terminate any enforcement action, including any such action pending on the date of enactment of this Act, that is inconsistent with the policy adopted under subsection (b);</text></clause> <clause id="idbfd796b5452147c0a23ed263a2ab4cb2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>exercise control over each board by reviewing and affirmatively approving in writing only occupational regulations that are consistent with the policy adopted under subsection (b);</text></clause>
<clause id="idfacb8065d7b84bd5b031f4538d9457d3"><enum>(v)</enum><text>use the analysis conducted under paragraph (5) and conduct reasonable investigations to gain additional information, including about less restrictive regulatory approaches, to promote compliance with subsection (b);</text></clause> <clause id="id0810aa31c95a43fe9db274108d4a89ff"><enum>(vi)</enum> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4A45737D32A74422A16025136317892E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>be staffed by not less than 1 attorney; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="idE82D98A8D0BC4F56A2605ED7C29CA0C8" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>prohibit attorneys working in the Office from providing general counsel to any board; and</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="id244b2e9af77349b0ab14952d25bf5758"><enum>(vii)</enum> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idAC2A720086554D4E886275EBDDB121BF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>approve board actions explicitly in writing, rather than implicitly; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id13726DAE8B38487AA952E34898420FCA" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>clearly establish that silence or inaction does not constitute approval.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idf43275edd93f4dd186b34d41de632897"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Internal review</header> <subparagraph id="id1D56798CD1174E0BBF068F1E938CAB6B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text>The State shall establish a mechanism under which a person who is a resident of or has a license to operate a business in the State may file a complaint with the Office about an occupational regulation of an occupational licensing board in the State that the person believes is inconsistent with the policy adopted under subsection (b).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idA91C096D58E543749076BAD1E5C2E4E3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Office response</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date on which a person files a complaint under subparagraph (A), the Office shall—</text> <clause id="id5FC8767DCB894C83AE485B31B7A688C9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>investigate the complaint;</text></clause>
<clause id="idF6D32B65146248D8AF9078AA9649CDB1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>identify remedies and instruct the board to take action, where appropriate; and</text></clause> <clause id="id9431A184A30048169E2B4797DE8B448B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>respond in writing to the complainant.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idC2EAD5276E3C488FA9F7E7D4A1C6772C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Review</header><text>The State shall establish a mechanism for review of a determination made by the Office under subparagraph (B), under which a complainant may appeal the determination to the general division of the trial court of the State if the challenged occupational regulation would substantially burden the complainant’s ability to—</text> <clause id="id08213BA9D834441F892C1F32B05ED55D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>engage in a lawful occupation; or</text></clause>
<clause id="idEF36A689779F49069B146B18E11FBD27"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>employ or contract other individuals for the performance of a lawful occupation.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idcd43a2a736214695bd9431921a26e86e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Right to raise defense</header> <subparagraph id="id205F436E5FD2472399ABCB40B4224914"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The State shall authorize an individual to assert as a defense, in any administrative or judicial proceeding to enforce an occupational regulation, that the regulation does not comply with the policy adopted under subsection (b).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idFD606A9B6C364A68B6C44D8B2F63212D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text>In a proceeding described in subparagraph (A)—</text> <clause id="id82e867c2e60047f99cfadf3f5e83d080"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an individual who asserts a defense under this paragraph has the initial burden of proof that the occupational regulation being enforced substantially burdens the individual’s ability to engage in a lawful occupation;</text></clause>
<clause id="id63ba62caa14d4470801fc1391394c05a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if an individual meets the burden of proof under clause (i), the State shall be required to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the occupational regulation—</text> <subclause id="idA5BF268A2E7142C1B855CC2E476ADDA6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>advances an important government interest in protecting against real, substantial threats to public health, safety, or welfare; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="ide6ec9683eda34b18891be6a49685a43e"><enum>(II)</enum><text>is substantially related to achievement of the important government interest described in subclause (I), in light of the availability of less restrictive alternatives to occupational licensing; and</text></subclause></clause> <clause id="idb72f771cd1594db2803de00652731208"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in reviewing an alleged violation of the policy adopted under subsection (b), an administrative agency or a court—</text>
<subclause id="id51050549e64e435c8b89c81ba0ce6cdf"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall make its own findings of fact and conclusions of law;</text></subclause> <subclause id="id0450226442a24e8ea0e7846f5f7aa3ba"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may not rely on a legislative finding of fact presented in admissible form to the agency or court; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="id1559522383bd4226abfd08f4c5e47f3e"><enum>(III)</enum><text>may not grant any presumption to a legislative determination—</text> <item id="id2b89a94e96a84210bdb48929f92b61f8"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>of harm to public health, safety, or welfare; or</text></item>
<item id="idd8827afa8ce446ea8ccba1c99776b5de"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>that the occupational regulation is substantially related to achievement of the important government interest described in clause (ii)(I).</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="idf88fd556197149b99b69db269e20a452"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Periodic advisory review</header> <subparagraph id="id822D0D355D4E488E8729BD57694D5687"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The State shall establish a mechanism for periodic non-binding review of existing occupational regulations, and non-binding review of new proposed occupational regulations, to ensure that the occupational regulations comply with the policy adopted under subsection (b).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idf1a495a6d1f1445ebd91cdf75cf5b5cf"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Scope of review</header><text>The entity conducting the review under subparagraph (A)—</text> <clause id="id283c02b720b14d109ae5659e4a6b613a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall publish an annual written report encompassing approximately 20 percent of the occupations subject to occupational regulations within the State, such that the entity will review all occupational regulations within the State during each 5-year period; and</text></clause>
<clause id="id9f3846dcd9df496da3a8280248c9c139"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall publish a written report assessing any proposed occupational licensing law, or other proposed law that would expand the authority of an occupational licensing board to impose occupational regulations, before the proposed law is submitted to a vote by the State legislature.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="iddedbe3712c6647559214bfc5713cd8c0"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Requirements for analysis</header><text>In conducting the review required under subparagraph (A), the entity shall—</text>
<clause id="id3869db7e66784d4a94931f7eec69d2c1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>determine whether the law or other regulation satisfies the policy adopted under subsection (b) of using the least restrictive regulation necessary to protect consumers from real, substantial threats to public health, safety, or welfare;</text></clause> <clause id="id202a4c1a4c1444c69d38989f8886fb4b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>evaluate the effects of the law or other regulation on opportunities for workers, consumer choices and costs, general unemployment, market competition, governmental costs, and other effects;</text></clause>
<clause id="id18952258772344c9ac23a44c6e63a3bf"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>compare the law or other regulation to whether and how other States regulate the applicable occupation; and</text></clause> <clause id="id3a2eb7aadd0f4c04b0ac3277e6d0a51f"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>if the applicable occupation is subject to an occupational licensing law, evaluate—</text>
<subclause id="idB4F0CE2C17FF45C886D004326FAB816C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the feasibility of entering into reciprocity compacts with one or more other States to improve worker mobility and labor market flexibility; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="idcab474a9b1024668bb9b2f3344df0b4d"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the advisability of endorsing occupational licenses granted by other States to spouses of active service military members as if those occupational licenses were granted by the State conducting the review.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="idf8d637c325f94abf9f5c8a5122ad6d4c"><enum>406.</enum><header>Judicial review</header>
<subsection id="idcb27a486f53d42659cbb718dc602c5e9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The immunity under section 404(a) shall apply to any action of an occupational licensing board of a State, or any action of a member, officer, or employee of that board acting in the official capacity of that member, officer, or employee, if—</text> <paragraph id="idd0ff006ee8e74a3487c7a2d7f86f9cd1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the actions of the occupational licensing board or member, officer, or employee are authorized by a non-frivolous interpretation of the occupational licensing laws of the State;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idab349cb63c9a43a7918c6d466fded937"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the State adopts a policy of using less restrictive alternatives to occupational licensing to address real, substantial threats to public health, safety, or welfare, in accordance with section 405(b); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="iddbbaf7a7db9d4c6b9b84eed7461225e6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the State enacts legislation providing for judicial review of occupational licensing laws, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id8d66bcca56f84fe78f95d561a50bb3f1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Judicial review legislation</header><text>Legislation enacted by a State under subsection (a)(3)—</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="id02bf8fa145b3437bb65c6ce586258ea5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id342fe96d82ff47a48e0bda365e0a9d43"><enum>(A)</enum><text>prohibit the State and any occupational licensing board from imposing an occupational licensing law unless the State—</text> <clause commented="no" id="idfa3b0bcd365647ea95ab66f7a7de2cbd"><enum>(i)</enum><text>identifies an important government interest in protecting against real, substantial threats to public health, safety, or welfare; and</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" id="idf5bc7ba2787348489bb9905fc48eb3ad"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>demonstrates that the occupational licensing law is substantially related to achievement of the important government interest described in clause (i), in light of the availability of less restrictive alternatives to occupational licensing;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" id="ide4b7e91e4d2f42839dbfc9a01bda8f3c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide an affirmative defense against enforcement of any occupational licensing law of the State under which the State shall be required to demonstrate that the standard under subparagraph (A) has been met;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idc1721d451719434183f63b79f9da8bba"><enum>(C)</enum><text>establish a cause of action under which—</text> <clause commented="no" id="id75E33E81CF9A4761AB46BB6304E95592"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a person may bring an action for injunctive relief against enforcement of an occupational licensing law of the State;</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" id="idAD0C0EAFC1D44C37A4429E26987E8DCB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the plaintiff bears the initial burden to prove that the challenged occupational licensing law substantially burdens the plaintiff’s ability to engage in a lawful occupation; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" id="id5E3E825C966E4C4C8E05CDD5F220A412"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>once the plaintiff makes the initial showing under clause (ii), the State is required to demonstrate that the standard under subparagraph (A) has been met;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id6b2a3bbac88f4e0eb84f9229c6742354"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provide for an award of reasonable costs and attorney fees to a person who successfully challenges the application of an occupational licensing law of the State by—</text> <clause commented="no" id="id4e9ec618c82b4e948b397ce8f48c6d36"><enum>(i)</enum><text>raising an affirmative defense under subparagraph (B); or</text></clause>
<clause commented="no" id="idbdafa4a5ac3d402cbd8a6aa3538d807b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>bringing an action under subparagraph (C); and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id9793b020a49749b88fc8397c0afb6f8e"><enum>(E)</enum><text>provide for independent judicial review of the occupational licensing laws of the State to ensure that the standard set forth in subparagraph (A) has been met; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id3a2f6d8e1c03462da45c9c8a85115ed6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may not authorize a court to—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id72817b10e7ec4964a8185a747e693dd2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>uphold enforcement of an occupational licensing law of the State simply because the court believes the law is rationally related to a legitimate governmental purpose;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id0806c2fea1ee419aa71173e5665c3470"><enum>(B)</enum><text>rely on hypothetical risks to public safety, not substantiated by evidence in the record, to uphold enforcement of an occupational licensing law of the State;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" id="id9d973a873e444be1babdf33313fa9090"><enum>(C)</enum><text>defer to factual or legal conclusions of another person or entity, rather than exercising independent review; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id38d0048e1a3d4c14b7f93d08500f8c33"><enum>(D)</enum><text>rely on a post hoc justification for the action of an occupational licensing board that was not put forward by the board at the time of the challenged action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id963cfa6192d4413abceeacc649aec99e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to require legislation enacted by a State under subsection (a)(3) to provide a right to recover monetary damages, other than reasonable costs and attorney fees as provided under subsection (b)(1)(D). </text></subsection></section>
<enum>V</enum><header>Other improvements to antitrust laws</header>
<section id="idE7F7D70DC2A3496CA1DBEDC2DC89056C"><enum>501.</enum><header>Overturning Illinois Brick and Hanover Shoe</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4 of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/15">15 U.S.C. 15</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="idB8FF07DFD66F44C398DD5D7839BA3FF1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), in the first sentence— </text>
<subparagraph id="id8E04E887A44346839DE04BA0CD8B4B72"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>subsection (b)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsections (b) and (c)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id471A4879E12C4BD39B0752A37A2C3326"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>, including an indirect purchaser,</quote> after <quote>business or property</quote>; </text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idFE0CA97C4DE64CB8AC13C53A1AF183F5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (f); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idC2D45F1552A848EA92147F462858C4C7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (b) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFE74C9BCF84A401395BABD9DA6734C5C">
<subsection id="id8300F384B1FE4380BB4CA61821AFA7C3"><enum>(c)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id0AB5DC9DD1044C83910D60ECD1D284DE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In the case of a person who was injured by a violation of the antitrust laws and who resold any property or service that was the subject of the violation, the amount of the damages sustained by the person shall not include the amount of any overcharge by the defendant (or portion thereof) that the person passed on to a subsequent purchaser of the property or service that was the subject of the violation.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id03d8717094964241af03a027eb5fe7a8" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The defendant shall bear the burden of proving the amount of any overcharge passed on to a subsequent purchaser.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="id279f0f8e119049878c8e5b7f388d7673"><enum>502.</enum><header>Limitations on implied immunity from the antitrust laws</header>
<subsection id="id20d1b81a12a6450393b319cca932a06e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any action or proceeding to enforce the antitrust laws with respect to conduct that is regulated under Federal statute, no court or adjudicatory body may find that the Federal statute, or any rule or regulation promulgated in accordance with the Federal statute, implicitly precludes application of the antitrust laws to the conduct unless—</text> <paragraph id="ide6cfa0766ca2488498f342e49ab5f49b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a Federal agency or department actively regulates the conduct under the Federal statute;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id6560d33e1bc74f808b146b1ea7ce56f0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Federal statute does not include any provision preserving the rights, claims, or remedies under the applicable antitrust laws or under any area of law that includes the antitrust laws; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="ida83bd94862794c7ea440793826fc23b0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Federal agency or department rules or regulations, adopted by rulemaking or adjudication, explicitly require or authorize the defendant to undertake the conduct.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="idf65614e1faa74aa4a7e59f5220af92e4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Existing federal regulation</header><text>In any action or proceeding described in subsection (a), the antitrust laws shall be applied fully and without qualification or limitation, and the scope of the antitrust laws shall not be defined more narrowly on account of the existence of Federal rules, regulations, or regulatory agencies or departments, unless application of the antitrust laws is precluded or limited by—</text> <paragraph id="id80e61d3e01504177a4437aeeb3c8a0c1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an explicit exemption from the antitrust laws under a Federal statute; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7a57071847674cbaa24887c38e147f38" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an implied immunity that satisfies the requirements under subsection (a).</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="id60247de8be6a464394a064f53fc0cbe0"><enum>503.</enum><header>Prejudgment interest</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(a) of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/15">15 U.S.C. 15</external-xref>), as amended by section 502 of this Act, is amended by striking <quote>may sue therefor</quote> and all that follows and inserting <quote>may sue therefor in any district court of the United States in the district in which the defendant resides or is found or has an agent, without respect to the amount in controversy, and shall recover threefold the damages by him sustained, the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee, and simple interest on threefold the damages by him sustained for the period beginning on the date of service of such person’s pleading setting forth a claim under the antitrust laws and ending on the date of judgment.</quote>.</text></section>
<section id="id2CAAB50A31474CAFA904BB477E65D0E3"><enum>504.</enum><header>Safe harbor for efforts to facilitate data portability and interoperability</header>
<subsection id="idC6F3C22044EC43058A03C28976E541B4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall not constitute a violation of the antitrust laws for 2 or more persons providing comparable interactive computer services (as defined in section 230(f) of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/230">47 U.S.C. 230(f)</external-xref>)) to enter into a joint venture or similar partnership to create standard protocols for data portability or interoperability between the interactive computer services if— </text> <paragraph id="idB9EF53088C904192BB87014EBEF32440"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the joint venture or similar partnership does not exclude from the joint venture or similar partnership any person that offers comparable interactive computer services; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id04FC767C5A0D420B93D2F63D5AEED45A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the standard protocols do not restrict competition in any market. </text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="id79503BF7DF154A2F9A330EBB6716264E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exception for per se violations</header><text>Subsection (a) shall not apply to conduct constituting a per se violation of section 1 of the Sherman Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1">15 U.S.C. 1</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section>
<section id="id2804072BDFD04D518465F047EA1C5533"><enum>505.</enum><header>Study of assigning all antitrust cases to certain district courts of the United States</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall submit to Congress a report reviewing the feasibility, possible benefits, and potential harms of establishing a program to designate certain district courts of the United States that will hear cases raising 1 or more claims under the antitrust laws. </text></section> <section id="idD254708D38044FC7855CCB52856EE2CD"><enum>506.</enum><header>Balancing harm and benefits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/12">15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idDAB322D55F58421B9EE530E90CC13CF2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating section 28 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/27">15 U.S.C. 27</external-xref>) as section 31; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="idCB79AB7B501043B5995AB8E1E34344AF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after section 27 the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDCB102AF942040BD8C85305CD07814FD">
<section id="idEF2E770FD38049A88A88B7BC37C53DF4"><enum>28.</enum><header>Balancing harm and benefits</header>
<subsection id="id91288d88e88a428d94d7d38f403aff42"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any civil action brought under this Act or the Sherman Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1">15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.</external-xref>), a court may consider a benefit, efficiency, or other mitigating factor only to the degree that it—</text> <paragraph id="idc54f9c9b9e24469fae572ce94f8e84f0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is tied to the market in which competition or consumers are harmed;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7c7348292e8446dda0e917141ec676c4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>can reasonably be achieved only through the conduct or transaction at issue;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id16631093407e460bb822814685b847bd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>is reasonably quantifiable;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida8be727d63d141b3a5607eb06c423dc6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>will accrue to the consumer; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id7ec538601fc64ca5b1fb7fd146442c65"><enum>(5)</enum><text>has a high likelihood of being achieved.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id5D89BB52FEB542E1A1FCA044C1DB2B8D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Examination of competitive effects</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In examining the competitive effects of conduct or a transaction challenged under any of the antitrust laws, a court shall consider exclusively the effects of the challenged conduct or transaction on consumer welfare, including price, output, quality, innovation, and consumer choice.</text></subsection> <subsection id="idd1c731bbfd72438fba08d3194ef0b0c9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that, in the aggregate, in-market benefits, efficiencies, or mitigating factors outnumber or outweigh any out-of-market benefits, efficiencies, or mitigating factors.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="id0b6d7b160a6e4d608d778ed8595d0bcd"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition of consumer</header><text>In this section, the term <term>consumer</term> includes buyers and sellers.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section> <section id="id8FB41342B7404C1AB6EB2B9FE839B750"><enum>507.</enum><header>Actions on behalf of consumers under Sherman Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4 of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/15">15 U.S.C. 15</external-xref>), is amended— </text>
<paragraph id="idF0583237E23A4AC6B2E48F3B386A4AE9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (c), as added by section 501 of this Act, the following: </text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98C487CFC7104799804D4E4E0B9210A8"> <subsection id="id32FF3CE31B3C41F885783EC10CC66F53"><enum>(d)</enum> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idDCBFB469196F4A5CB2660423A4B4814F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Assistant Attorney General may bring an action on behalf of persons in the United States injured in their business or property by reason of anything forbidden under the Sherman Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1">15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.</external-xref>) in any district court of the United States in the district in which the defendant resides or is found or has an agent, without respect to the amount in controversy, and shall recover threefold the damages sustained by such persons, and the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id92291EC3ED544787903CC5FC0481ACA6" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id03DF39C04BC04C95A0C08C97B1592B27"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The court may award under this subsection, pursuant to a motion by the Assistant Attorney General promptly made, simple interest on actual damages in accordance with the requirements under subsection (a).</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="id42c4a7fab4104b05a829f99b240c614f" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A court may not award any damages under this subsection that are duplicative of damages awarded before the date of the award under this subsection in a separate civil action pertaining to the same conduct and injured party. </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id2069e052c79242f5b3f1cd9a93cfbc0b" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A court awarding damages to a person in a civil action after the date of an award of damages under this subsection that would be duplicative of damages awarded to the Assistant Attorney General on behalf of the person shall direct that such damages shall first be paid by the Assistant Attorney General from amounts in the Fund and, to the extent such damages are not fully paid from amounts in the Fund, shall be paid by the defendant.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph indent="up1" id="idA519F6A9DB8C4A579495369419FDCDF0"><enum>(3)</enum> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id745B06131DF2436BB06EF1E444BD401E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the <quote>Antitrust Consumer Damages Fund</quote> (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>Fund</quote>), which shall consist of amounts deposited under subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph indent="up1" id="id8BAE23741453466FAEEEA57FF4F05F1B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, any amounts received by the Assistant Attorney General under an award under this subsection— </text> <clause id="id5B7F52522757484C853DECEF629A5D16"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall be deposited in the Fund; and</text></clause>
<clause id="idCC772689090A4FAF87C9FA2F205A6574"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall be available to the Assistant Attorney General, without further appropriation, for distribution to persons in the United States harmed by the applicable violation of the Sherman Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1">15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph indent="up1" id="idD05E9F7730F14C1DA757CC692CEBBCF3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Effective on the day after the date that is 10 years after the date on which an award is received under this subsection, the unobligated balances in the Fund of amounts that were received under the award are rescinded and shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idE2F4C3ECC796425EA5B0936B851EAA2C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (f), as so redesignated by section 501 of this Act—</text> <subparagraph id="idFA8319887A444A95B355D71E0A9D0CC7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idCEE1DB69F5D947EF9787A123B3A64CAB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting before paragraph (1) the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5158E62B0B8347559537331FC20E4CB4"> <paragraph id="idDDA0A6899DD34BD8867AADD04A14F205"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>Assistant Attorney General</term> means the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice; </text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section>
<section id="idE7F2F815C87D403FB565624F093D9773"><enum>508.</enum><header>Civil fines for knowing violations of the antitrust laws</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4 of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/15">15 U.S.C. 15</external-xref>), is amended by inserting after subsection (d), as added by section 507 of this Act, the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id746D9074D94E4AA39F9A98D03492416B"> <subsection id="idD6A4DDA4CCAC444492D9E2A2C008F9DC"><enum>(e)</enum> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3FCB9B572DDA412CBBEC1DFF40CE7673"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In this subsection, the term <term>covered antitrust laws</term> means any provision of the antitrust laws, other than section 7 of this Act.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idABEDB106A63349A9BF9DC7BF6840647B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4C5F4089617A43DFBD1C3F4E392D6A6D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>In an action brought by the Assistant Attorney General in an appropriate district court of the United States, the court may impose a civil fine against any person who engaged in a knowing violation of any provision of the covered antitrust laws.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph indent="up1" id="id38B712DB61BF4B4F8BF8B16004C926B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The maximum amount of a civil fine imposed on a person under subparagraph (A) shall be 15 percent of the total of the gross income of the person from the line of business at issue during each year during which the person engaged in the violation.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph indent="up1" id="id704087593B324ED8BCAAE5C263BE82EE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A civil fine under paragraph (2) shall be in addition to any damages awarded or other remedy imposed in connection with the violation of the provision of the covered antitrust laws.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="id5c7baa5f31cb46c3ad30a21cfe292caa"><enum>509.</enum><header>Direct evidence of intent to avoid or restrict competition</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/12">15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 28, as added by section 506 of this Act, the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id59EF2C088CD94CEE9F603C9A8112ECE1">
<section id="id4A2FE918C23F43B7A8A0A5BAA3989B9C"><enum>29.</enum><header>Direct evidence of intent to avoid or restrict competition</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In any civil action brought under this Act or the Sherman Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1">15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.</external-xref>), if there is direct evidence that the conduct or transaction at issue was undertaken with the clear intent to harm or prevent competition, which shall not require proof that the person knowingly violated the antitrust laws, the court shall deem the conduct or transaction to be anticompetitive.</text></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="id4C2412CF7CEC48909E1EA027693A5780"><enum>510.</enum><header>Limit on contracting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The head of an Executive agency may not award a contract for the procurement of goods or services to any person that has been found by a trier of fact in a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated any of the antitrust laws, except for section 7 of the Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/18">15 U.S.C. 18</external-xref>), on or after the date that is 5 years before the date on which the procurement process for the goods or services begins. </text></section>
<section id="idf3978bf7897146b1b9234c029b3448f3"><enum>511.</enum><header>Prohibiting discrimination in distribution</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Clayton Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/12">15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 29, as added by section 509 of this Act, the following:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id696C58C803E2430897341DF076F18575"> <section id="id356A50737D59405BA6D7DFCDAC78EA93"><enum>30.</enum><header>Prohibiting discrimination in distribution</header> <subsection id="id867e22f246ab48a39fa59dce542121ef"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id5554a5f60b8142079f326130c694bd27"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Distributed product</header><text>The term <quote>distributed product</quote> means a good or service that is distributed by a person other than the person which manufactures or provides the good or service. </text></paragraph> <paragraph id="id1ca56d2f70de4a18a1a4a809d07c51c9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Distribution Market</header><text>The term <quote>distribution market</quote> means the geographic and product markets for the distribution of a distributed product.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id5ada509edcfc4668986cdd86a25edda4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Discrimination by persons with monopoly power</header><text>A person with monopoly power in a distribution market, that also offers a product or service that competes with a distributed product in the distribution market in which it has monopoly power, may not engage in discrimination in that distribution market that harms competition in the market for the distributed product.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="id7FA3FFB3446944C5925381F4519FC0F3"><enum>512.</enum><header>Authorizations of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.</text></section>