WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) introduced the FTC Commissioner Parity Act. This legislation aligns the FTC with every other federal regulatory commission by establishing firm limits on commissioners’ tenures. 

“Under President Biden, the FTC has abused its power and commissioners have become unaccountable. This bill erects guardrails, limiting such abuse and reaffirms Congressional oversight of the agency, said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald.

View the bill here

Background: 
Unlike every other multi-member regulatory commission, such as the SEC, CFTC, and FCC, commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has no limit on the time they may serve past the expiration of their term. 

Since the start of the Biden Administration, the FTC has been an activist regulator. The agency’s continued refusal to grant early terminations of the waiting period for mergers that pose no threat to competition; moves to diminish the role of minority Commissioners; allowing public input only after the Commission has voted on the issues at hand; and the agency’s preparation to issue second requests unless the merging parties convince it not do so, a “guilty-until-proven-innocent” approach to law enforcement all serve to undermine the rule of law. 

Additionally, FTC Chair Lina Khan has utilized former commissioner, Rohit Chopra’s vacant position to cast votes in his place (also known as “zombie votes”) on more than 20 policy statements, cases and potential rule-makings. 

Cosponsors: Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04), Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-50), and Louie Gohmert (TX-01)                                    

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