[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 14, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1762-H1763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FTC COLLABORATION ACT OF 2021
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1766) to enhance cooperation between the Federal Trade
Commission and State Attorneys General to combat unfair and deceptive
practices, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1766
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 ``FTC Collaboration Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES COOPERATION STUDY.
(a) In General.--
(1) Study required.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission
shall conduct a study on facilitating and refining existing
efforts with State Attorneys General to prevent, publicize,
and penalize frauds and scams being perpetrated on
individuals in the United States.
(2) Requirements of study.--In conducting the study, the
Commission shall examine the following:
(A) The roles and responsibilities of the Commission and
State Attorneys General that best advance collaboration and
consumer protection.
(B) The policies, procedures, and mechanisms that
facilitate cooperation and communications across the
Commission.
(C) How resources should be dedicated to best advance such
collaboration and consumer protection.
(D) The accountability mechanisms that should be
implemented to promote collaboration and consumer protection.
(3) Consultation and public comment.--In producing the
study required in paragraph (1), the Commission shall--
(A) consult with--
(i) the National Association of State Attorneys General;
(ii) public interest organizations dedicated to consumer
protection;
(iii) relevant private sector entities; and
(iv) any other Federal or State agency that the Federal
Trade Commission considers necessary; and
(B) provide opportunity for public comment and advice
relevant to the production of the study.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 6 months after the
completion of the study required pursuant to subsection (a),
the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make
publicly available on the website of the Commission, a report
that contains the following:
(1) The results of the study.
(2) Recommended best practices to enhance collaboration
efforts between the Commission and State Attorneys General
with respect to preventing, publicizing, and penalizing fraud
and scams.
(3) Quantifiable metrics by which enhanced collaboration
can be measured.
(4) Legislative recommendations, if any, to enhance
collaboration efforts between the Commission and State
Attorneys General to prevent, publicize, and penalize fraud
and scams.
(c) Commission Defined.--In this section, the term
``Commission'' means the Federal Trade Commission.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1766.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1766, the FTC
Collaboration Act of 2021. This bipartisan bill was introduced again
this year by Representatives O'Halleran and Hudson.
[[Page H1763]]
The bill will help reinforce the important relationship between the FTC
and State attorneys general.
Our State attorneys general play a critical role in enforcing and
complementing Federal consumer protection laws. The FTC is a relatively
small law enforcement agency charged with protecting consumers across
the country. By partnering with State attorneys general, the reach of
Federal consumer protection efforts is expanded. Stronger enforcement
actions can be taken against unscrupulous companies and those engaging
in unfair and deceptive practices hurting consumers.
When Americans are harmed by fraud and scams, they often turn to
their State attorneys general for help, but these scammers may be
targeting people across the country. By working together, State AGs and
the FTC can pool their resources and protect consumers across the
country.
This bill will help the FTC optimize its collaboration with State
attorneys general by studying the matter and issuing a report on how to
further promote collaboration.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1400
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1766, the FTC
Collaboration Act.
As bad actors and scammers continue their efforts to take advantage
of American consumers, we must not back down when it comes to ensuring
the safety of our constituents and authenticity of consumer products.
The FTC Collaboration Act directs the Federal Trade Commission to
examine how it can work better with State attorneys general to prevent,
publicize, and penalize scams in the United States.
This legislation would require the FTC to submit a report to Congress
on how to enhance collaboration with State law enforcement. I remain
confident this can help in other agenda items we can work together on
in this particular session. It is so important that we work together
with our colleagues on the State level.
I am proud of the important steps this bill takes to keep consumers
safe and, importantly, prioritize our most vulnerable during COVID-19.
Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. In closing, I ask my
colleagues to support this very important bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I urge
support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Pingree). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1766.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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