The Center applauds the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 2668, the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act, which cleared the body by a vote of 221-205 yesterday and now moves to the Senate. The bipartisan legislation would restore the Federal Trade Commission's core regulatory function — getting money back to consumers from whom it was unlawfully taken — which the Supreme Court severely hindered this past spring in its decision in AMG Capital Management v. FTC
Center Director Ted Mermin testified before Congress in support of this bill earlier this year, joining a chorus of like-minded organizations in the consumer protection sphere such as the National Association of Consumer Advocates, Consumer Reports, and Truth in Advertising.
“Every day, in every state and city and town in this country, scammers try to take advantage of consumers,” says Mermin. “And if a rogue business steals our money, we want the FTC to be able to get it back. It's that simple.”
The Center believes that a fully empowered FTC is essential to protect the American public — in particular during a time of great economic vulnerability for millions of families. We urge the Senate to quickly take up and pass H.R. 2668.