[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 20 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KOHL (for himself, Mr. Hatch, and Mr. Specter):
  S. 480. A bill to amend the Antitrust Modernization Commission Act of 
2002, to extend the term of the Antitrust Modernization Commission and 
to make a technical correction; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Antitrust 
Modernization Commission Extension Act of 2007. This legislation will 
ensure that the Commission is able to finalize its report examining the 
state of the Nation's antitrust laws in a timely manner by granting it 
a brief 30 day extension to close out its operations. I thank my co-
sponsors Senators Hatch and Specter for joining me in introducing this 
measure.
  Congress established the Antitrust Modernization Commission through 
the passage of the Antitrust Modernization Act of 2002. The 
Commission's purpose was to ``examine whether the need exists to 
modernize the antitrust laws'' of our Nation. In fulfillment of this 
purpose the Commission is now finalizing a comprehensive report due to 
both Congress and the President by April 2, 2007. Currently, the 
Commission expects the report to be submitted in a timely manner. The 
Commission is concerned, however, with the sufficiency of the 
statutorily required 30 day deadline to dismantle itself following the 
submission of the report.
  In order to comply with the current statutory framework and shut down 
operations within 30 days of the report's submission date, the 
Commission will need to begin archiving its records prior to its 
completion of the report. This large administrative undertaking will 
interfere with the Commission's final efforts on the report given the 
Commission's very limited staff resources. In view of the importance of 
the report, it is imperative that no aspect of this report be 
jeopardized by administrative deadlines. To alleviate this burden on 
the closing operations of the Commission, I am introducing this 
legislation to extend the Commission's administrative shutdown period 
from 30 days to 60 days.
  Granting an additional 30 days to the Commission will provide it with 
time to archive Commission records and work product, while allowing it 
to perform other necessary close-out tasks, including the transfer of 
its acquired property to other government agencies, without interfering 
with the completion of its report. Furthermore, the time extension 
requested does not contemplate the appropriation of any additional 
funding to the Commission. In fact, the Commission expects that it will 
likely return at least $500,000 to the Treasury of the $4 million 
allocated to it upon fulfillment of its purpose. This 30 day extension 
is merely directed at the administrative process of wrapping up 
operations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that will 
effectively and efficiently allow the Antitrust Modernization 
Commission to complete its designated tasks.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 480

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Antitrust Modernization 
     Commission Extension Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TERMINATION.

       Section 11059 of the Antitrust Modernization Commission Act 
     of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 1 note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``30 days'' and inserting ``60 days''; and
       (2) by striking ``section 8'' and inserting ``section 
     11058''.
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