[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1640-H1642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRANSPARENCY IN CHARGES FOR KEY EVENTS TICKETING ACT
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1402) to require sellers of event tickets to disclose
comprehensive information to consumers about ticket prices and related
fees, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1402
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 ``Transparency In Charges for
Key Events Ticketing Act'' or the ``TICKET Act''.
SEC. 2. ALL INCLUSIVE TICKET PRICE DISCLOSURE.
Beginning 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, it shall be unlawful for a ticket issuer, secondary
market ticket issuer, or secondary market ticket exchange to
offer for sale an event ticket unless the ticket issuer,
secondary market ticket issuer, or secondary market ticket
exchange--
(1) clearly and conspicuously displays the total event
ticket price, if a price is displayed, in any advertisement,
marketing, or price list wherever the ticket is offered for
sale;
(2) clearly and conspicuously discloses to any individual
who seeks to purchase an event ticket the total event ticket
price at the time the ticket is first displayed to the
individual and anytime thereafter throughout the ticket
purchasing process; and
(3) provides an itemized list of the base event ticket
price and each event ticket fee prior to the completion of
the ticket purchasing process.
SEC. 3. SPECULATIVE TICKETING BAN.
(a) Prohibition.--Beginning 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, a ticket issuer, secondary market
ticket issuer, or secondary market ticket exchange that does
not have actual or constructive possession of an event ticket
shall not sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale such
event ticket.
(b) Services Permitted.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a
secondary market ticket issuer or secondary market ticket
exchange may sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale a
service to an individual to obtain an event ticket on behalf
of such individual if the secondary market ticket issuer or
secondary market ticket exchange complies with the following:
(1) Does not market or list the service as an event ticket.
(2) Maintains a clear, distinct, and easily discernible
separation between the service and event tickets that
persists throughout the entire service selection and
purchasing process.
(3) Clearly and conspicuously discloses before selection of
the service that the service is not an event ticket and that
the purchase of the service does not guarantee an event
ticket.
SEC. 4. DISCLOSURES.
A ticket issuer, secondary market ticket issuer, or
secondary market ticket exchange--
(1) if offering an event ticket for resale, shall provide a
clear and conspicuous statement, before a consumer purchases
the event ticket from the ticket issuer, secondary market
ticket issuer, or secondary market ticket exchange, that the
issuer or exchange is engaged in the secondary sale of event
tickets;
[[Page H1641]]
(2) shall not state that the ticket issuer, secondary
market ticket issuer, or secondary market ticket exchange is
affiliated with or endorsed by a venue, team, or artist, as
applicable, including by using words like ``official'' in
promotional materials, social media promotions, or paid
advertising, unless a partnership agreement has been executed
or the issuer or exchange has the express written consent of
the venue, team, or artist, as applicable; and
(3) shall not include the name of the venue, including any
misspelling of any such name, in a domain name, or any
subdomain thereof, in the URL of the secondary market ticket
issuer or secondary market ticket exchange unless authorized
by the owner of the venue.
SEC. 5. REFUND REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Cancellation.--Beginning 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, if an event is canceled or postponed
(except for a case in which an event is canceled or postponed
due to a cause beyond the reasonable control of the issuer,
including a natural disaster, civil disturbance, or otherwise
unforeseeable impediment), a ticket issuer, secondary market
ticket issuer, or secondary market ticket exchange shall
provide the purchaser of an event ticket from the issuer or
exchange for the canceled or postponed event, at a minimum--
(1) if the event is cancelled, a full refund for the total
event ticket price;
(2) subject to availability, if the event is postponed for
not more than 6 months and the original event ticket is no
longer valid for entry to the rescheduled event, a
replacement event ticket for the rescheduled event in the
same or a comparable location once the event has been
rescheduled; or
(3) if the event is postponed for more than 6 months, at
the option of the purchaser--
(A) a full refund for the total event ticket price; or
(B) if the original event ticket is no longer valid for
entry to the rescheduled event, a replacement event ticket
for the rescheduled event in the same or a comparable
location once the event has been rescheduled.
(b) Disclosure of Guarantee and Refund Policy Required.--
Beginning 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, a ticket issuer, secondary market ticket issuer, or
secondary market ticket exchange shall disclose clearly and
conspicuously to a purchaser before the completion of an
event ticket sale the guarantee or refund policy of such
ticket issuer, secondary market ticket issuer, or secondary
market ticket exchange, including under what circumstances
any refund issued will include a refund of any event ticket
fee.
(c) Disclosure of How To Obtain a Refund Required.--
Beginning 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, a ticket issuer, secondary market ticket issuer, or
secondary market ticket exchange shall provide a clear and
conspicuous explanation of how to obtain a refund of the
total event ticket price.
SEC. 6. REPORT BY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ON BOTS ACT OF
2016 ENFORCEMENT.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on
enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016
(Public Law 114-274; 15 U.S.C. 45c), including any
enforcement action taken, challenges with enforcement and
coordination with State Attorneys General, and
recommendations on how to improve enforcement and industry
compliance.
SEC. 7. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Unfair or Deceptive Act or Practice.--A violation of
this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining
an unfair or deceptive act or practice under section
18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C.
57a(a)(1)(B)).
(b) Powers of Commission.--
(1) 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.
(2) Privileges and immunities.--Any person who violates
this Act shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to
the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(3) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any
other provision of law.
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Artist.--The term ``artist'' means any performer,
musician, comedian, producer, ensemble or production entity
of a theatrical production, sports team owner, or similar
person.
(2) Base event ticket price.--The term ``base event ticket
price'' means, with respect to an event ticket, the price of
the event ticket excluding the cost of any event ticket fees.
(3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(4) Event.--The term ``event'' means any live concert,
theatrical performance, sporting event, show, or similarly
scheduled live activity, that is--
(A) taking place in a venue with a seating or attendance
capacity exceeding 200 persons;
(B) open to the general public; and
(C) promoted, advertised, or marketed in interstate
commerce, or for which event tickets are generally sold or
distributed in interstate commerce.
(5) Event ticket; ticket issuer.--The terms ``event
ticket'' and ``ticket issuer'' have the meaning given those
terms in the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (Public
Law 114-274).
(6) Event ticket fee.--The term ``event ticket fee''--
(A) means a charge for an event ticket that must be paid in
addition to the base event ticket price in order to obtain an
event ticket from a ticket issuer, secondary market ticket
issuer, or secondary market ticket exchange, including any
service fee, charge and order processing fee, delivery fee,
facility charge fee, tax, and any other charge; and
(B) does not include any charge or fee for an optional
product or service associated with the event that may be
selected by a purchaser of an event ticket.
(7) Optional product or service.--The term ``optional
product or service'' means a product or service that an
individual does not need to purchase to use or take
possession of an event ticket.
(8) Resale; secondary sale.--The terms ``resale'' and
``secondary sale'' mean any sale of an event ticket that
occurs after the initial sale of the event ticket by a ticket
issuer.
(9) Secondary market ticket exchange.--The term ``secondary
market ticket exchange'' means any person that in the regular
course of trade or business of that person operates a
platform or exchange for advertising, listing, or selling
resale tickets, on behalf of itself, vendors, or a secondary
market ticket issuer.
(10) Secondary market ticket issuer.--The term ``secondary
market ticket issuer'' means any person, including a ticket
issuer, that resells or makes a secondary sale of an event
ticket to the general public in the regular course of the
trade or business of the person.
(11) Total event ticket price.--The term ``total event
ticket price'' means, with respect to an event ticket, the
total cost of the event ticket, including the base event
ticket price and any event ticket fee.
(12) URL.--The term ``URL'' means the uniform resource
locator associated with an internet website.
(13) Venue.--The term ``venue'' means a physical space at
which an event takes place.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. BILIRAKIS. 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 in the Record on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1402, the
Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act, or the TICKET
Act. I am proud to lead this bill alongside the ranking member, my good
friend, Ms. Schakowsky.
This legislation is about empowering consumers and ensuring fans can
enjoy live events by improving ticket price transparency.
H.R. 1402 requires all platforms selling event tickets to show the
complete price, with all required fees, right from the start. People
budget, Mr. Speaker, for these games, concerts, or what have you. They
need to know up front what the price is going to be. It also guarantees
customers can get their money back if an event is canceled or
rescheduled. It also cracks down on misleading ticket sites. It is a
great bill.
This bill further prohibits the sale of tickets the seller doesn't
yet have, a practice known as speculative selling. Eliminating this
tactic helps level the playing field so more fans have a fair shot at
attending events. They deserve that.
I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this very good
bill, H.R. 1402. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 1402, the TICKET Act.
This bipartisan legislation creates a fairer and more transparent event
ticketing marketplace. It ends the surprise fees on tickets for
concerts and sporting events that understandably frustrate consumers.
With this legislation, the price you see when you are shopping for
event tickets will be the price that
[[Page H1642]]
you pay. There will be no hidden fees raising the price at the checkout
point.
This bill also prohibits companies from selling tickets they don't
have, requires refunds for events that are canceled or postponed more
than 6 months into the future, and cracks down on fraudulent ticketing
websites.
American consumers need and deserve these commonsense protections.
Yet, these protections are meaningless without strong and consistent
enforcement. House Republicans are standing by in silence as the
Federal Trade Commission, the agency entrusted with enforcing this bill
and several others under consideration this afternoon, is compromised
by the Trump administration and the President's illegal political
attempt to fire the two Democratic commissioners.
This unlawful decision undermines the legitimacy and transparency of
the agency's decisions, sending a message that no commissioner,
regardless of party, is safe, and no business that harms consumers
should fear accountability, so long as it shows sufficient loyalty to
the President.
I urge my Republican colleagues to recognize that restoring the FTC
as an independent agency, as this Congress intended, is essential to
ensuring this bill and similar efforts to protect consumers are fully
effective and enforced without fear or favor.
I thank the wide range of stakeholders who worked on this bill, and
particularly the consumer groups for their unwavering support of this
bill.
Of course, I particularly want to commend Subcommittee Chair
Bilirakis and Ranking Member Schakowsky for their years of hard work on
this legislation.
Finally, I need to acknowledge, Mr. Speaker, the contribution of my
late colleague and dear friend from New Jersey, Congressman Bill
Pascrell. He was a tireless advocate and leader on improving the
ticketing experience for consumers.
I am proud to have partnered with him on his longtime efforts that
are included in the bill we have before us today. When the TICKET Act
was on the floor last year, Bill gave an impassioned speech in support
of all-in pricing and the other consumer protections in this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this
legislation, the TICKET Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the Democratic sponsor of this bill, who has
worked on this legislation for such a long time.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Frank Pallone for his support
and leadership. Gus Bilirakis and I have been working for over 2 years
now on this piece of legislation that is going to bring such delight
and security for artists and for consumers who really want to benefit
from being able to get the wonderful products that they can put their
money into so that they can have their families enjoy so many events.
We know that there have been hidden fees. These companies say that
this is how much it is going to cost you to be able to go to an event,
to be able to go to a concert. You think, and the people who are trying
to buy these tickets think, that these are going to be the fees that
they are going to have to pay. Sure enough, by the time the product is
ready to be paid for, often it can go as much as 40 percent higher.
That is really cheating the people who are spending their money.
We know that with passage of the TICKET Act that consumers will be
paying only the amount that they believe they are paying the first
time. That is the money that you are going to pay, no more.
It is about time that the scammers who are going and raising the
price of these events are now going to not be able to do that. People
are going to get exactly what they had asked for, what they had paid
for.
The passage of the TICKET Act is really a happy event. We need to
pass this legislation. I know that lots and lots of people and people
who are artists are going to really do better. I look forward to
finally, after a couple of years, passing this bill. This bill passed
the House of Representatives overwhelmingly in the last Congress.
It is time for us to get this done. I thank Gus for his
bipartisanship. It has been a pleasure to work with him.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the remarks of the
gentlewoman from Illinois. I just want to say it has been great working
with Representative Schakowsky on a number of bills over the years. She
has really been very cooperative, and we are doing good things for the
American consumer.
I will also say that this is a very profamily bill. We have got to
get our kids out to some of these ball games and some of these concerts
together as a family, but it is very difficult to budget when you don't
know exactly what the price is going to be ultimately.
I want to commend some of the artists such as Kid Rock. He will buy
the tickets and give them to people that deserve those tickets that
otherwise would not be able to afford them. My good friend Tony
Orlando, as well, does this. They are just wonderful artists that do so
much for our country, particularly our military and our veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I agree with Mr. Bilirakis. This is
important consumer protection, and I am glad to see that our committee
and the subcommittee headed by Mr. Bilirakis as chair and Ms.
Schakowsky as the ranking member has taken on so many of these consumer
issues today and in the future. I ask for support on both sides of the
aisle, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote in
the memory of Bill Pascrell who did such a wonderful job on this
particular issue. I am glad we are getting it across the finish line.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1402.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________