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Pallone & Schakowsky Praise House Passage of Four Consumer Protection Bills

September 29, 2020

Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following joint statement today after the House of Representatives passed four consumer protection and commerce bills:

"Protecting consumers has always been one of this Committee's top priorities, and these bills achieve that by improving the Consumer Product Safety Commission's ability to screen imported consumer products, protecting racehorses and jockeys from unsafe practices, and ensuring the federal government has the information and data it needs to strengthen our economy and address emerging threats," said Pallone and Schakowsky. "In every case, these bills put American consumers first, and we are glad to see them pass the House with such strong bipartisan support."

The House of Representatives passed the following bills:

H.R. 8134, the "Consumer Product Safety Inspection Enhancement Act," introduced by Chair Schakowsky and Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), enhances the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) ability to identify unsafe consumer products entering the United States – particularly e-commerce shipments. Specifically, the bill requires the CPSC to expand its presence at ports, enhance the targeting, surveillance and screening of consumer products, and require the electronic filing of certificates of compliance for all consumer products entering the United States. The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote.

H.R. 8128, the "Consumer Safety Technology Act," was introduced by Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Michael Burgess (R-TX). It requires the CPSC to establish a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in achieving its product safety mission. The bill also directs the Department of Commerce (DOC) to conduct a study on the state of blockchain technology in commerce, and directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to submit to Congress a report and recommendations on unfair or deceptive practices relating to digital tokens. The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote.

H.R. 1754, the "Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019," introduced by Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Andy Barr (R-KY), establishes minimum standards for racing surfaces, pre-race inspections, equine medical directors, workout requirements and safety stewards. Further, it provides federal recognition and enforcement power to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority for purposes of developing and implementing both a horse racing anti-doping and medication control program and a racetrack safety program. The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote.

H.R. 8132, the "American Competitiveness Of a More Productive Emerging Tech Economy Act" or the "American COMPETE Act," introduced by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), directs the DOC and the FTC to study and report to Congress on the state of AI, quantum computing, blockchain and new and advanced materials. The bill also requires the DOC to study and report to Congress on the state of the Internet of Things (IOT), IOT manufacturing, three-dimensional printing and unmanned delivery services, while also directing the FTC to study how AI may be used to address online harms. The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote.

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