[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4618. Mr. HICKENLOOPER submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by him to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory
Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to
lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. PREVENTION OF DATA BROKERS PURCHASING, SELLING, OR
COLLECTING DATA NEAR POLLING PLACES.
(a) Prohibition.--
(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for any data broker
to purchase, sell, or collect any data from a device within
100 yards of any polling place used in a Federal, State, or
local election while such polling place is open for casting
votes in any such election.
(2) Definition of data broker.--The term ``data broker''
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the
Protecting Americans Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of
2024 (15 U.S.C. 9901).
(3) Definition of polling place.--For purposes of this
section, the term ``polling place'' shall include any
building or infrastructure where voting occurs during a
Federal, State, or local election.
(b) Enforcement by the FTC.--
(1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of
this section or a regulation promulgated thereunder 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)).
(2) Powers of the commission.--
(A) In general.--The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce
this section 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 who violates
this section or a regulation promulgated thereunder 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.).
(C) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade
Commission under any other provision of law.
(c) Enforcement by State Attorneys General.--
(1) In general.--If the chief law enforcement officer of a
State, or an official or agency designated by a State, has
reason to believe that any person has violated or is
violating this section, the attorney general, official, or
agency of the State, in addition to any authority it may have
to bring an action in State court under State law, may bring
a civil action in any appropriate United States district
court or in any other court of competent jurisdiction,
including a State court, to--
(A) enjoin further such violation by such person;
(B) enforce compliance with this Act;
(C) obtain civil penalties; and
(D) obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on
behalf of residents of the State.
(2) Notice and intervention by the ftc.--The attorney
general of a State shall provide to the Federal Trade
Commission prior written notice of any action under paragraph
(1) and a copy of the complaint in the action, except in any
case in which such prior notice is not feasible, in which
case the attorney general shall serve such notice immediately
upon instituting such action. The Federal Trade Commission
shall have the right--
(A) to intervene in the action;
(B) upon so intervening, to be heard on all matters arising
therein; and
(C) to file petitions for appeal.
(3) Limitation on state action while federal action is
pending.--If the Federal Trade Commission has instituted a
civil action for violation of this section, no State attorney
general, or official or agency of a State, may bring an
action under this subsection during the pendency of that
action against any defendant named in the complaint of the
Federal Trade Commission for any violation of this section
alleged in the complaint.
(4) Relationship with state-law claims.--If the attorney
general of a State has authority to bring an action under
State law directed at acts or practices that also violate
this section, the attorney general may assert the State-law
claim and a claim under this section in the same civil
action.
______