Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill expands the Federal Trade Commission's authority to seek financial remedies and other court-ordered relief when companies violate consumer protection laws. Currently, the FTC's enforcement powers are limited primarily to obtaining injunctions that stop illegal conduct, but this legislation would allow the agency to pursue additional remedies such as restitution to harmed consumers, disgorgement of illegal profits, contract rescission, and refunds of money or return of property. The bill applies a ten-year lookback period, meaning the FTC can seek these remedies for violations that occurred within the previous decade, though time spent by defendants outside the United States does not count toward this limitation. The changes apply to all FTC enforcement actions filed on or after the bill's enactment. By strengthening the FTC's enforcement toolkit, the legislation is intended to make it easier for the agency to compensate consumers who have been defrauded or harmed and to financially penalize companies that profit from illegal conduct.
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