[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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