[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1709-S1713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse):
  S. 907. A bill to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act to add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Rhode Island 
Fishermen's Fairness Act along with my colleague Senator Whitehouse. 
This legislation seeks to address a longstanding inequity in our 
nation's fisheries management system that denies Rhode Island a voice 
in the management of many stocks that our fishing industry relies on.
  Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Rhode Island has voting membership on 
the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) since NEFMC-managed 
stocks represent a significant percentage of landings and revenue for 
our state. However, Rhode Island has an even larger stake in Mid-
Atlantic fisheries. Yet, it does not have voting representation on the 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), which currently 
consists of representatives from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
  According to data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), between 2015 and

[[Page S1710]]

2019, Rhode Island accounted for approximately a quarter of the 
commercial landings from stocks under MAFMC's sole jurisdiction, both 
by weight and value. The significance of commercial landings from 
stocks managed by MAFMC is growing every year for Rhode Island, 
accounting for 58% of Rhode Island's federally managed commercial 
fisheries landings in 2019.
  After making an appearance during last summer's Democratic National 
Convention, Rhode Island calamari quickly became a social media 
sensation, and for good reason. Calamari (or squid) is by far the most 
important commercial species in the Ocean State. In 2019 alone, Rhode 
Island landed over 5.5 million more pounds of squid than any other 
state on the East Coast. But, Rhode Island does not have a formal say 
in how this species is managed because it does not have representation 
on the MAFMC.
  The legislation we are introducing offers a simple solution with a 
sound precedent. North Carolina was added to the MAFMC as part of the 
Sustainable Fisheries Act in 1996. Like Rhode Island, a significant 
portion of North Carolina's landed fish species were managed by the 
MAFMC, yet the state was not represented on the council.
  Just like the 1996 law that added North Carolina, the Rhode Island 
Fishermen's Fairness Act would create two seats for our state on the 
MAFMC. One seat would be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce based 
on recommendations from the Governor of Rhode Island, and a second seat 
would be filled by Rhode Island's principal state official with marine 
fishery management responsibility. To accommodate these new members, 
the bill would increase the MAFMC from 21 to 23 voting members. This 
would guarantee Rhode Island the same minimum representation as other 
states currently on the council, without altering their status.
  With mounting economic, ecological, and regulatory challenges, it is 
more important than ever that Rhode Island fishermen have a voice in 
the management of the fisheries they depend on. I urge our colleagues 
to join us in supporting this commonsense legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. 
        Scott of South Carolina):
  S. 912. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
provide information regarding vaccines for seniors as part of the 
Medicare & You handbook and to ensure that the treatment of cost 
sharing for vaccines under Medicare part D is consistent with the 
treatment of vaccines under Medicare part B, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that will 
help to improve adult vaccination rates throughout this country. I am 
thankful to Senators Capito, Whitehouse, and Scott of South Carolina 
for their partnership on this important legislation.
  Before there were vaccines, nearly everyone got measles, and diseases 
like whooping cough, polio, and rubella were commonplace among children 
and adults. Luckily for us, vaccines are now a cornerstone of our 
nation's disease prevention efforts. They have a demonstrated record 
limiting the spread of debilitating and potentially deadly conditions--
from measles to flu to pneumonia--saving lives and reducing health care 
costs. A successful vaccination campaign is also essential to fully 
reopening society and preventing future COVID-19 outbreaks.
  Unfortunately, adult vaccines rates are not nearly as high as they 
could and should be. Prior to the pandemic, more than 50,000 adults per 
year died from vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, while 
millions more became ill as a result, causing them to miss work and 
leaving some unable to care for those who depend on them. The health 
care costs associated with low adult vaccine rates are enormous--each 
year, the U.S. spends $15 billion treating Medicare beneficiaries alone 
for these vaccine-preventable diseases.
  Because the immune system deteriorates as people age, adults 50 and 
over are especially susceptible to many vaccine-preventable diseases 
and account for a disproportionate number of deaths and illnesses from 
these disease. As Americans age, the impact of these diseases and their 
complications is likely to grow--unless we quickly and substantially 
improve use of and access to adult vaccines, especially among Medicare 
beneficiaries.
  By increasing vaccine access, we can save thousands of lives and 
potentially billions of dollars. Unfortunately, older adults seeking 
access to and coverage for vaccines encounter many barriers. They may 
not know where or how to get vaccinated and cost can be an obstacle for 
both patients and providers.
  That's why we've introduced the Protecting Seniors Through 
Immunization Act of 2021. The bill improves vaccine information and 
education for Medicare beneficiaries, including the risks and 
consequences of vaccine-preventable disease, and ensures older adults 
know what vaccines are right for them at the right time.
  The bill also eliminates the cost burden of vaccines on our nation's 
aging population. Vaccines are available for free under private 
insurance, but under Medicare, vaccine coverage is split between 
Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. Seniors can access vaccines 
covered under Part B--such as flu, pneumonia and Hepatitis--with no 
cost-sharing. However, vaccines covered under Part D, such as shingles 
(herpes zoster) and pertussis (Tdap), can include a wide range of cost-
sharing requirements. For seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes 
such as Social Security benefits, these additional costs may preclude 
them from being vaccinated.
  A 2018 study of Tdap and herpes zoster vaccine claims under Medicare 
Part D demonstrated that higher out-of-pocket cost-sharing is 
associated with higher rates of cancelled vaccination claims--in other 
words, when the costs of vaccines are too high, seniors can't or won't 
get them. The study found that cost-sharing of $51 or greater is 
associated with a 2 to 2.7-times greater rate of cancelled vaccination 
claims compared with $0 cost-sharing.
  There are more than 300,000 cases of shingles reported in the U.S. 
each year. About 50 percent of people who experience shingles will have 
postherpetic neuralgia, a debilitating, painful, and long-lasting 
disease. This is just one example of the types of conditions that 
vaccines can prevent.
  We have a lot of room for improvement for uptake of these vaccines. 
Passing the Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2021 will 
help us to do so. By reducing cost barriers and improving access and 
raising awareness, we can implement these vaccines better and set the 
stage for healthy aging.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
        Klobuchar, Mr. Reed, and Ms. Warren):
  S. 913. A bill to conduct a study on the spread of COVID-19-related 
disinformation and misinformation on the internet and social media 
platforms, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the COVID-19 
Disinformation Research and Reporting Act. I thank Representative 
Jennifer Wexton for working with me on this important piece of 
legislation, which will help shine a light on the ways social media and 
other online platforms amplify and spread misinformation and 
disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic to the detriment of 
public health. I also thank my colleagues--Senators Booker, Blumenthal, 
Klobuchar, Warren, and Reed--for cosponsoring this bill.
  As I stand here today nearly 30 million Americans have been diagnosed 
with COVID-19 and over 540,000 have died from the virus.
  The numbers alone are staggering. But when you hear and read the 
personal stories of individuals and families who are suffering, it is 
truly tragic. It makes you mournful that for many of the individuals 
who died, they died alone in the absence of their loved ones.
  While many things contributed to this massive loss of life, I am here 
to talk about one in particular: the insidious spread of coronavirus-
related misinformation and disinformation online. This ``infodemic'' 
has undercut the efforts of public health officials at every turn, and 
threatens to prolong the virus's impact on the health of our people and 
economy long after a safe and effective vaccine is available.
  The online spread of misinformation about public health is nothing 
new.

[[Page S1711]]

Claims that the 2014 Ebola epidemic was a form of population control 
spread across social media. Anti-vaccination groups have long used 
Facebook and YouTube to share junk science and recruit new members.
  However, social media platforms' response to coronavirus was supposed 
to be different. Early in the pandemic, the major social media 
platforms announced new measures to combat misinformation while making 
sure users had access to accurate, authoritative information about the 
virus. Facebook added a COVID-19 Information Center to the tops of 
users' News Feeds and announced it would remove misinformation that 
could contribute to imminent physical harm. Twitter verified accounts 
that provided credible updates on the pandemic and committed to 
removing false or misleading content that contradicted information from 
health authorities. YouTube began directing users who searched for 
COVID-related information to the WHO or other health authorities and 
banned false information contradicting health authorities on treatment, 
prevention, diagnosis, or transmission of COVID-19.
  Unfortunately, these measure proved lacking and insufficient. The 
conspiracy film Plandemic was viewed more than 8 million times across 
social media platforms, and the sequel was viewed over 100,000 times on 
YouTube during its first week alone. An August 2020 study by advocacy 
group Avaaz found that misinformation about vaccines and other health 
topics had been viewed an estimated 3.8 billion times on Facebook in 
the previous year--four times more than factual, authoritative content 
from institutions like the WHO and CDC. The study found that only 16% 
of previously fact-checked health misinformation on Facebook carried a 
warning label.
  Spend even a small amount of time on the internet or social media and 
you will find rampant misinformation and conspiracy theories about 
COVID-19. Some examples of these falsehoods include: Bill Gates created 
the virus to use a vaccine as cover to implant microchips into 
Americans. No, actually, Dr. Fauci created the coronavirus to seize 
political power. You shouldn't wear a mask to protect against the 
coronavirus, because wearing a mask actually weakens your immune 
system. And do not worry if you catch the coronavirus--you can treat it 
by drinking bleach.
  These claims might seem ridiculous, but they have real word 
consequences. A study published in the American Journal of Tropical 
Medicine and Hygiene found that 5,800 people had been hospitalized and 
at least 800 people died in the first three months of 2020 alone as a 
direct result of coronavirus-related misinformation. As recently as 
August, the Georgia Department of Health and the Texas Poison Control 
Center had to warn people not to drink bleach to treat COVID. A recent 
poll found that only 51 percent of people wear a facial covering in 
public, despite its proven efficacy in preventing the spread of COVID. 
And, perhaps must troubling, polls suggest that over 30% of the U.S. 
population will not get a COVID vaccine.
  If we hope to get past the coronavirus and avoid similar public 
health crises in the future, we must understand where misinformation 
originates, how it spreads, and strategies to stop it.
  This is exactly what the COVID-19 Disinformation Research and 
Reporting Act will do. It directs the National Science Foundation to 
partner with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine to conduct a study on the spread of COVID-19-related 
disinformation and misinformation on the internet and social media 
platforms. This study will provide critical information on the roles 
disinformation and misinformation have played in the public response to 
COVID-19, including public acceptance of and demand for COVID-19 
vaccines; the sources of COVID-19-related disinformation and 
misinformation and the ways it has influenced the public debate; the 
role social media plays in the disseminating and promoting this 
disinformation and misinformation; and potential strategies for 
combatting misinformation and disinformation in the future.
  This information will not stop the next pandemic from coming. And, it 
will not force the next Administration to take it seriously and follow 
the advice of doctors and scientists. But it can give us the knowledge 
and tools necessary to avoid another infodemic and ensure the American 
public receives accurate and authoritative information when it is most 
needed.
  I therefore encourage my colleagues to support the COVID-19 
Disinformation Research and Reporting Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 933. A bill to designate the Battleship IOWA Museum, located in 
Los Angeles, California, as the National Museum of the Surface Navy, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Ms. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
``Battleship Iowa National Museum of the Surface Navy Act,'' which I 
introduced today.
  This simple bill would designate the Battleship USS Iowa Museum 
located in Los Angeles, California, as the ``National Museum of the 
Surface Navy.''
  The Battleship, USS Iowa Museum, would be the official museum to 
honor the millions of Americans who have proudly served and continue to 
serve in the United States Surface Navy since the founding of the Navy 
on October 13, 1775.
  The Battleship USS Iowa is an iconic ship that served as a home to 
hundreds of thousands of sailors from all 50 states. Commissioned in 
1943, the Battleship Iowa has received accolades as the ``World's 
Greatest Navy Ship'' and had several namesakes, including the ``Mighty 
I'' and the ``Big Stick,'' which referred to President Teddy 
Roosevelt's famous adage: ``Speak softly and carry a big stick.''
  The USS Iowa was also known as the ``Battleship of Presidents.'' In 
1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the ship for meetings with 
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Primer Joseph 
Stalin. President George H.W. Bush re-commissioned the USS Iowa in 1984 
while serving as Vice President of the United States. Prior to the USS 
Iowa's decommissioning in 1990, President Ronald Reagan used the ship 
for our nation's Celebration of Liberty in New York City on July 4, 
1986.
  The USS Iowa earned nine battle stars for service in World War II and 
two for service during the Korean War. The ship was also awarded the 
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, 
the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Navy ``E'' Ribbon--four 
times.
  In 2012, the Navy donated the Battleship Iowa to the Pacific 
Battleship Center, which established the Battleship USS Iowa Museum at 
the Port of Los Angeles. Since its opening, the Museum has welcomed 
millions of visitors.
  The Museum also hosts numerous military activities, including 
enlistments, re-enlistments, commissionings, promotions, and community 
service days. The museum also provides on-site training for federal, 
state, and local law enforcement personnel.
  Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the museum has closed all of its 
indoor exhibits and has struggled to attract visitors. As a non-profit 
organization, the museum is supported solely by admissions, donations, 
event space rentals, and gift shops.


                        How the bill would help

  Our bill would designate the USS Battleship Iowa Museum as the 
``National Museum of the Surface Navy'' to raise awareness and educate 
the public on the important role of the United States Surface Navy.
  The ``National Museum of the Surface Navy'' would build on the 
success of the Battleship USS Iowa Museum by introducing new exhibits 
and programs with a focus on education, veterans, and community.


                               Conclusion

  It is imperative that we preserve the legacy of those who have served 
on the Battleship USS Iowa and all Surface Navy ships.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill. Thank you, 
Mr. President. I yield the floor.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Grassley, Ms. 
        Hirono, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Tillis):

[[Page S1712]]

  S. 936. A bill to require online marketplaces to collect, verify, and 
disclose certain information regarding high-volume third party sellers 
of consumer products to inform consumers; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, 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. 936

       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 ``Integrity, Notification, and 
     Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act'' or 
     the ``INFORM Consumers Act''.

     SEC. 2. COLLECTION, VERIFICATION, AND DISCLOSURE OF 
                   INFORMATION BY ONLINE MARKETPLACES TO INFORM 
                   CONSUMERS.

       (a) Collection and Verification of Information.--
       (1) Collection.--
       (A) In general.--An online marketplace shall require any 
     high-volume third party seller on such online marketplace's 
     platform to provide, not later than 2 business days after 
     qualifying as a high-volume third party seller on the 
     platform, the following information to the online 
     marketplace:
       (i) Bank account.--

       (I) In general.--A bank account number, or, if such seller 
     does not have a bank account, the name of the payee for 
     payments issued by the online marketplace to such seller.
       (II) Provision of information.--The bank account or payee 
     information required under subclause (I) may be provided by 
     the seller in the following ways:

       (aa) To the online marketplace.
       (bb) To a payment processor or other third party contracted 
     by the online marketplace to maintain such information, 
     provided that the online marketplace ensures that it can 
     obtain such information on demand from such payment processor 
     or other third party.
       (ii) Contact information.--Contact information for such 
     seller as follows:

       (I) With respect to a high-volume third party seller that 
     is an individual, a copy of a valid government-issued 
     identification for the individual that includes the 
     individual's name and physical address.
       (II) With respect to a high-volume third party seller that 
     is not an individual, one of the following forms of contact 
     information:

       (aa) A copy of a valid government-issued identification for 
     an individual acting on behalf of such seller that includes 
     the individual's name and physical address.
       (bb) A copy of a valid government-issued record or tax 
     document that includes the business name and physical address 
     of such seller.
       (iii) Tax id.--A business tax identification number, or, if 
     such seller does not have a business tax identification 
     number, a taxpayer identification number.
       (iv) Working email and phone number.--A current working 
     email address and phone number for such seller.
       (B) Notification of change; annual certification.--
       (i) In general.--An online marketplace shall require any 
     high-volume third party seller on such online marketplace's 
     platform to promptly notify the online marketplace of any 
     change to the information collected under subparagraph (A).
       (ii) Annual certification.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, an 
     online marketplace shall--

       (I) inform any high-volume third party seller on such 
     online marketplace's platform of the notification requirement 
     described in clause (i); and
       (II) instruct any such seller to electronically certify, 
     not later than 3 business days after receiving such 
     instruction, that--

       (aa) there have been no changes to such seller's 
     information; or
       (bb) such seller has provided any changes to such 
     information to the online marketplace.
       (iii) Suspension.--In the event that an online marketplace 
     does not receive the annual certification from a high-volume 
     third party seller required under clause (ii), the online 
     marketplace shall suspend any future sales activity of such 
     seller or any payments to such seller for prior sales 
     activity until such seller provides such certification.
       (2) Verification.--
       (A) In general.--An online marketplace shall--
       (i) verify the information collected under paragraph (1)(A) 
     not later than 3 business days after such collection; and
       (ii) verify any change to such information not later than 3 
     business days after being notified of such change by a high-
     volume third party seller under paragraph (1)(B).
       (B) Presumption of verification.--In the case of a high-
     volume third party seller that provides a copy of a valid 
     government-issued tax document, any information contained in 
     such document shall be presumed to be verified as of the date 
     of issuance of such document.
       (b) Disclosure Required.--
       (1) Requirement.--
       (A) In general.--An online marketplace shall--
       (i) require any high-volume third party seller on such 
     online marketplace's platform to provide the information 
     described in subparagraph (B) to the online marketplace; and
       (ii) disclose the information described in subparagraph (B) 
     to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner on the product 
     listing or (for information other than such seller's 
     identification) through a clear and conspicuously-placed link 
     on the product listing or in close proximity to the physical 
     product.
       (B) Information described.--The information described in 
     this subparagraph is the following:
       (i) Subject to paragraph (2), the identity of the high-
     volume third party seller, including--

       (I) the full name of the seller;
       (II) the physical address of the seller;
       (III) whether the seller also engages in the manufacturing, 
     importing, or reselling of consumer products; and
       (IV) contact information for the seller, including--

       (aa) a current working phone number; and
       (bb) a current working email address or other means of 
     electronic messaging (which may be provided to such seller by 
     the online marketplace).
       (ii) The identification of any seller that supplies the 
     consumer product to the consumer upon purchase, if such 
     seller is different than the high-volume third party seller 
     listed on the product listing prior to purchase.
       (2) Exception.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), upon the 
     request of a high-volume third party seller, an online 
     marketplace may provide for partial disclosure of the 
     identity information required under paragraph (1)(B)(i) in 
     the following situations:
       (i) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace that 
     the seller does not have a business address and only has a 
     residential street address, the online marketplace may--

       (I) disclose only the country and, if applicable, the State 
     in which such seller resides; and
       (II) inform consumers that there is no business address 
     available for the seller and that consumer inquiries should 
     be submitted to the seller by phone, email, or other means of 
     electronic messaging provided to such seller by the online 
     marketplace.

       (ii) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace 
     that the seller is a business that has a physical address for 
     product returns, the online marketplace may disclose the 
     seller's physical address for product returns.
       (iii) If such seller certifies to the online marketplace 
     that the seller does not have a phone number other than a 
     personal phone number, the online marketplace shall inform 
     consumers that there is no phone number available for the 
     seller and that consumer inquiries should be submitted to the 
     seller's email address or other means of electronic messaging 
     provided to such seller by the online marketplace.
       (B) Limitation on exception.--If an online marketplace 
     becomes aware that a high-volume third party seller has made 
     a false representation to the online marketplace in order to 
     justify the provision of a partial disclosure under 
     subparagraph (A) or that a high-volume third party seller who 
     has requested and received a provision for a partial 
     disclosure under subparagraph (A) has not provided responsive 
     answers within a reasonable time frame to consumer inquiries 
     submitted to the seller by phone, email, or other means of 
     electronic messaging provided to such seller by the online 
     marketplace, the online marketplace shall suspend the selling 
     privileges of such seller unless such seller consents to the 
     disclosure of the identity information required under 
     paragraph (1)(B)(i).
       (3) Reporting mechanism.--An online marketplace shall 
     disclose to consumers in a clear and conspicuous manner on 
     the product listing of any high-volume third party seller--
       (A) a reporting mechanism that allows for electronic and 
     telephonic reporting of suspicious marketplace activity to 
     the online marketplace; and
       (B) a message encouraging consumers seeking goods for 
     purchase to report suspicious marketplace activity to the 
     online marketplace.
       (4) Compliance.--If a high-volume third party seller does 
     not comply with the requirements to provide and disclose 
     information under this subsection, the online marketplace 
     shall suspend any future sales activity of such seller or any 
     payments to such seller for prior sales activity until such 
     seller complies with such requirements.
       (c) Enforcement.--
       (1) Unfair and deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of 
     subsection (a) or (b) by an online marketplace shall be 
     treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or 
     deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 
     18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 
     57a(a)(1)(B)).
       (2) Powers of the commission.--
       (A) In general.--The Commission shall enforce this Act in 
     the same manner, by the same means, and with the same 
     jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable 
     terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 
     U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of 
     this Act.
       (B) Privileges and immunities.--Any person that violates 
     subsection (a) or (b) shall be subject to the penalties, and 
     entitled to

[[Page S1713]]

     the privileges and immunities, provided in the Federal Trade 
     Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
       (3) Regulations.--The Commission may promulgate regulations 
     under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, with 
     respect to the collection, verification, or disclosure of 
     information under this section, provided that such 
     regulations are limited to what is necessary to collect, 
     verify, and disclose such information.
       (4) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
     construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any 
     other provision of law.
       (d) Severability.--If any provision of this section, or the 
     application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held 
     invalid, the remainder of this section and the application of 
     such provision to other persons not similarly situated or to 
     other circumstances shall not be affected by the 
     invalidation.
       (e) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Trade Commission.
       (2) Consumer product.--The term ``consumer product'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Magnuson-
     Moss Warranty--Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act (15 
     U.S.C. 2301 note) and section 700.1 of title 16, Code of 
     Federal Regulations.
       (3) High-volume third party seller.--The term ``high-volume 
     third party seller'' means a participant on an online 
     marketplace's platform who is a third party seller and who, 
     in any continuous 12-month period during the previous 24 
     months, has entered into 200 or more discrete sales or 
     transactions of new or unused consumer products resulting in 
     the accumulation of an aggregate total of $5,000 or more in 
     gross revenues.
       (4) Online marketplace.--The term ``online marketplace'' 
     means any person or entity that operates an electronically 
     based or accessed platform that--
       (A) includes features that allow for, facilitate, or enable 
     third party sellers to engage in the sale, purchase, payment, 
     storage, shipping, or delivery of a consumer product in the 
     United States; and
       (B) is used by one or more third party sellers for such 
     purposes.
       (5) Seller.--The term ``seller'' means a person who sells, 
     offers to sell, or contracts to sell a consumer product 
     through an online marketplace's platform.
       (6) Third party seller.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``third party seller'' means any 
     seller, independent of an online marketplace, who sells, 
     offers to sell, or contracts to sell a consumer product in 
     the United States through such online marketplace's platform.
       (B) Exclusions.--The term ``third party seller'' does not 
     include, with respect to an online marketplace, a seller--
       (i) who operates the online marketplace's platform; or
       (ii) who--

       (I) is a business entity that has made available to the 
     general public the entity's name, business address, and 
     working contact information;
       (II) has an ongoing contractual relationship with the 
     online marketplace to provide for the manufacture, 
     distribution, wholesaling, or fulfillment of shipments of 
     consumer products; and
       (III) has provided to the online marketplace identifying 
     information, as described in subsection (a), that has been 
     verified in accordance with that subsection.

       (7) Verify.--The term ``verify'' means to confirm 
     information provided to an online marketplace pursuant to 
     this section by the use of one or more methods that enable 
     the online marketplace to reliably determine that any 
     information and documents provided are valid, corresponding 
     to the seller or an individual acting on the seller's behalf, 
     not misappropriated, and not falsified.

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

                          ____________________