H. R. 2243

One Hundred Third Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the twenty-fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four

An Act

To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to extend the authorization of appropriations in such Act, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Trade Commission Act Amendments of 1994’’.

(b) REFERENCE.—Whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal

is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section

or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made

to a section or other provision of the Federal Trade Commission

Act.

SEC. 2. AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES.

The Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.)

is amended by redesignating sections 24 and 25 as sections 25

and 26, respectively, and by inserting immediately after section

23 the following new section:

‘‘SEC. 24. (a) The Commission shall not have any authority to conduct any study, investigation, or prosecution of any agricultural cooperative for any conduct which, because of the provisions

of the Act entitled ‘An Act to authorize association of producers

of agricultural products’, approved February 18, 1922 (7 U.S.C.

291 et seq., commonly known as the Capper-Volstead Act), is not

a violation of any of the antitrust Acts or this Act. ‘‘(b) The Commission shall not have any authority to conduct any study or investigation of any agricultural marketing orders.’’.

SEC. 3. COMPENSATION IN PROCEEDINGS.

(a) REPEAL.—Subsection (h) of section 18 (15 U.S.C. 57a) is

repealed and subsections (i), (j), and (k) of section 18 are redesignated as subsections (h), (i), and (j), respectively. (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 18(a)(1) (15 U.S.C.

57a(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (i)’’ and inserting

‘‘subsection (h)’’.

SEC. 4. PROCEEDINGS SUBSEQUENT TO VIOLATIONS OF ORDERS.

(a) CONSENT ORDERS.—Section 5(m)(1)(B) (15 U.S.C.

45(m)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, other than a consent order,’’

immediately after ‘‘order’’ the first time it appears. (b) DETERMINATIONS OF LAW.—Section 5(m)(2) (15 U.S.C.

45(m)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Upon

request of any party to such an action against such defendant,

the court shall also review the determination of law made by
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the Commission in the proceeding under subsection (b) that the

act or practice which was the subject of such proceeding constituted

an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of subsection

(a).’’.

SEC. 5. PREVALENCE OF UNLAWFUL ACTS OR PRACTICES.

Section 18(b) (15 U.S.C. 57a(b)) is amended by adding at the

end the following new paragraph:

‘‘(3) The Commission shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking

pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) only where it has reason to believe

that the unfair or deceptive acts or practices which are the subject

of the proposed rulemaking are prevalent. The Commission shall

make a determination that unfair or deceptive acts or practices

are prevalent under this paragraph only if—

‘‘(A) it has issued cease and desist orders regarding such

acts or practices, or

‘‘(B) any other information available to the Commission

indicates a widespread pattern of unfair or deceptive acts or

practices.’’.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDERS.

(a) ORDERS SUBJECT TO PETITION FOR REVIEW.—Section 5(g)(2)

(15 U.S.C. 45(g)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(2) Except as to any order provision subject to paragraph

(4), upon the sixtieth day after such order is served, if a

petition for review has been duly filed; except that any such

order may be stayed, in whole or in part and subject to such

conditions as may be appropriate, by— ‘‘(A) the Commission;

‘‘(B) an appropriate court of appeals of the United

States, if (i) a petition for review of such order is pending

in such court, and (ii) an application for such a stay was

previously submitted to the Commission and the Commission, within the 30-day period beginning on the date the

application was received by the Commission, either denied

the application or did not grant or deny the application;

or

‘‘(C) the Supreme Court, if an applicable petition for

certiorari is pending.’’. (b) ORDERS SUBJECT TO SECTIONS 5(m)(1)(B) AND 19(a)(2).—

Section 5(g)(3) (15 U.S.C. 45(g)(3)) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(3) For purposes of subsection (m)(1)(B) and of section

19(a)(2), if a petition for review of the order of the Commission

has been filed—

‘‘(A) upon the expiration of the time allowed for filing

a petition for certiorari, if the order of the Commission

has been affirmed or the petition for review has been

dismissed by the court of appeals and no petition for certiorari has been duly filed;

‘‘(B) upon the denial of a petition for certiorari, if

the order of the Commission has been affirmed or the

petition for review has been dismissed by the court of

appeals; or

‘‘(C) upon the expiration of 30 days from the date

of issuance of a mandate of the Supreme Court directing

that the order of the Commission be affirmed or the petition

for review be dismissed.’’.
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(c) DIVESTITURE ORDERS.—Section 5(g)(4) (15 U.S.C. 45(g)(4))

is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(4) In the case of an order provision requiring a person,

partnership, or corporation to divest itself of stock, other share

capital, or assets, if a petition for review of such order of

the Commission has been filed—

‘‘(A) upon the expiration of the time allowed for filing

a petition for certiorari, if the order of the Commission

has been affirmed or the petition for review has been

dismissed by the court of appeals and no petition for certiorari has been duly filed;

‘‘(B) upon the denial of a petition for certiorari, if

the order of the Commission has been affirmed or the

petition for review has been dismissed by the court of

appeals; or

‘‘(C) upon the expiration of 30 days from the date

of issuance of a mandate of the Supreme Court directing

that the order of the Commission be affirmed or the petition

for review be dismissed.’’.

(d) TECHNICAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 5(g) (15 U.S.C.

45(g)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting a period.

SEC. 7. CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE DEMANDS.

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 20(a) (15 U.S.C. 57b–1(a)) is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or in any antitrust

violations’’ immediately after ‘‘section 5(a)(1))’’;

(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘or any provisions relating to antitrust violations’’ immediately after ‘‘section 5(a)(1))’’; (3) in paragraph (7), by inserting ‘‘or any antitrust viola- tion’’ immediately after ‘‘section 5(a)(1))’’; and (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

‘‘(8) The term ‘antitrust violation’ means any unfair method of competition (within the meaning of section 5(a)(1)), any violation of the Clayton Act, any violation of any other Federal

statute that prohibits, or makes available to the Commission

a civil remedy with respect to, any restraint upon or monopolization of interstate or foreign trade or commerce, or any

activity in preparation for a merger, acquisition, joint venture,

or similar transaction, which if consummated, may result in

such an unfair method of competition or violation.’’.

(b) ISSUANCE OF DEMAND.—(1) Section 20(c)(1) (15 U.S.C. 57b–

1(c)(1)) is amended—

(A) by inserting ‘‘or tangible things’’ immediately after

‘‘documentary material’’ the first place it appears;

(B) by inserting ‘‘or to antitrust violations,’’ immediately

after ‘‘section 5(a)(1)) ,’’; and

(C) by inserting ‘‘to submit such tangible things,’’ immediately after ‘‘copying or reproduction,’’.

(2) Section 20(c) (15 U.S.C. 57b–1(c)) is amended—

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9),

(10), (11), and (12) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10),

(11), (13), and (14), respectively;

(B) by inserting immediately after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:

‘‘(4) Each civil investigative demand for the submission of tangible things shall—
H. R. 2243—4

‘‘(A) describe each class of tangible things to be submitted

under the demand with such definiteness and certainty as

to permit such things to be fairly identified;

‘‘(B) prescribe a return date or dates which will provide

a reasonable period of time within which the things so

demanded may be assembled and submitted; and

‘‘(C) identify the custodian to whom such things shall be

submitted.’’; and

(C) by inserting immediately after paragraph (11), as so

redesignated, the following new paragraph:

‘‘(12) The submission of tangible things in response to a civil

investigative demand shall be made under a sworn certificate, in

such form as the demand designates, by the person to whom the

demand is directed or, if not a natural person, by any person

having knowledge of the facts and circumstances relating to such

production, to the effect that all of the tangible things required

by the demand and in the possession, custody, or control of the

person to whom the demand is directed have been submitted to

the custodian.’’.

(c) SECTION 20(g).—Section 20(g) (15 U.S.C. 57b–1(g)) is

amended by inserting ‘‘, tangible things’’ immediately after ‘‘documentary material’’.

(d) APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 20.—Section 20(j)(1) (15 U.S.C.

57b–1(j)(1)) is amended by inserting immediately before the semicolon the following: ‘‘, any proceeding under section 11(b) of the

Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 21(b)), or any adjudicative proceeding under

any other provision of law’’.

SEC. 8. COMMISSION CUSTODY OF TANGIBLE THINGS.

Section 21 (15 U.S.C. 57b–2) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘tangible things,’’

immediately after ‘‘documentary material,’’; (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘, tangible thing,’’

immediately after ‘‘document’’; (3) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘tangible things,’’

immediately after ‘‘documentary material,’’; (4) in subsection (b)(3)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘tangible things,’’

immediately after ‘‘documentary material,’’; (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘, and may make

tangible things available,’’ immediately after ‘‘oral testimony’’; and by inserting ‘‘, things,’’ immediately after ‘‘such

material’’;

(C) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘tangible things,’’

immediately after ‘‘documentary material,’’ and by inserting

‘‘, things,’’ immediately after ‘‘material’’; and

(D) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘, tangible

things,’’ immediately after ‘‘documentary material’’;

(5) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting ‘‘tangible things,’’

immediately after ‘‘documentary material,’’;

(6) in subsection (b)(5), by inserting ‘‘tangible things,’’

immediately after ‘‘documentary material,’’;

(7) in subsection (b)(6)—

(A) by inserting immediately after the first sentence

the following new sentence: ‘‘The custodian of any tangible

things may make such things available for inspection to

such persons on the same basis.’’; and
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(B) by inserting ‘‘results of inspections of tangible things,’’ immediately after ‘‘Such documentary material,’’;

and

(8) in subsection (b)(7), by inserting ‘‘tangible things,’’ immediately after ‘‘documentary material,’’.

SEC. 9. DEFINITION OF UNFAIR ACTS OR PRACTICES.

Section 5 (15 U.S.C. 45) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(n) The Commission shall have no authority under this section or section 18 to declare unlawful an act or practice on the grounds

that such act or practice is unfair unless the act or practice causes

or is likely to cause substantial injury to consumers which is not

reasonably avoidable by consumers themselves and not outweighed

by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition. In determining whether an act or practice is unfair, the Commission may

consider established public policies as evidence to be considered

with all other evidence. Such public policy considerations may not

serve as a primary basis for such determination.’’.

SEC. 10. PROCESS.

(a) AUTHORITY.— (1) ADVERTISEMENTS IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 12.—Section

13(a) (15 U.S.C. 53(a)) is amended by striking the last sentence

and inserting the following: ‘‘Any suit may be brought where

such person, partnership, or corporation resides or transacts

business, or wherever venue is proper under section 1391 of

title 28, United States Code. In addition, the court may, if

the court determines that the interests of justice require that

any other person, partnership, or corporation should be a party

in such suit, cause such other person, partnership, or corporation to be added as a party without regard to whether venue

is otherwise proper in the district in which the suit is brought.

In any suit under this section, process may be served on any

person, partnership, or corporation wherever it may be found.’’. (2) PROVISIONS ENFORCED BY COMMISSION.—Section 13(b)

(15 U.S.C. 53(b)) is amended by striking the last sentence

and inserting the following: ‘‘Any suit may be brought where

such person, partnership, or corporation resides or transacts

business, or wherever venue is proper under section 1391 of

title 28, United States Code. In addition, the court may, if

the court determines that the interests of justice require that

any other person, partnership, or corporation should be a party

in such suit, cause such other person, partnership, or corporation to be added as a party without regard to whether venue

is otherwise proper in the district in which the suit is brought.

In any suit under this section, process may be served on any

person, partnership, or corporation wherever it may be found.’’.

(b) PROCEDURES.—Section 13 (15 U.S.C. 53) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and

(2) by inserting immediately after subsection (b) the following new subsection:

‘‘(c) Any process of the Commission under this section may

be served by any person duly authorized by the Commission—

‘‘(1) by delivering a copy of such process to the person

to be served, to a member of the partnership to be served,

or to the president, secretary, or other executive officer or

a director of the corporation to be served;
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‘‘(2) by leaving a copy of such process at the residence

or the principal office or place of business of such person,

partnership, or corporation; or

‘‘(3) by mailing a copy of such process by registered mail

or certified mail addressed to such person, partnership, or

corporation at his, or her, or its residence, principal office,

or principal place or business.

The verified return by the person serving such process setting

forth the manner of such service shall be proof of the same.’’.

SEC. 11. INTERVENTION BY COMMISSION IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.

(a) LIMITATION ON USE OF AUTHORIZED FUNDS.—The Federal

Trade Commission shall not have any authority to use any funds

which are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Federal

Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) for fiscal years 1994,

1995, and 1996 for the purpose of submitting statements to, appearing before, or intervening in the proceedings of, any Federal or

State agency or State legislative body concerning proposed rules

or legislation that the agency or legislative body is considering

unless the Commission advises the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on

Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives regarding

such action as soon as possible.

(b) CONTENTS OF NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—The notice required

in subsection (a) shall include the name of the agency or legislator

involved, the date of such action, and a concise statement regarding

the nature and purpose of such action.

SEC. 12. RESOURCE ALLOCATION STUDY.

The Federal Trade Commission shall conduct an evaluation

of the level of its personnel resources and the manner in which

such resources are allocated. The Commission shall study— (1) whether overall resources at the Commission are adequate to fulfill the Commission’s responsibilities in the areas

of competition and consumer protection;

(2) the distribution of personnel to individual offices of

commissioners, departments, bureaus, and other units within

the Commission, and whether the current allocation of personnel most efficiently enables the Commission to fulfill its statutory mandate; (3) the number of personnel in supervisory positions, contrasted with those personnel in nonsupervisory positions; and (4) whether the amount of workyears devoted to research activities should be increased and what results (if any) such

an increase would produce.

The Commission shall transmit the results of such study, together

with any recommendations that the Commission determines appropriate, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of

the House of Representatives not later than 6 months after the

date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 13. FEDERAL-STATE COOPERATION.

The Federal Trade Commission shall review its statutory

responsibilities to identify those matters within its jurisdiction

where Federal enforcement is particularly necessary or desirable

and those areas that might more effectively be enforced at the
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State or local level. In identifying such areas, the Commission

shall—

(1) consider the resources available to the Commission

and the States, as well as particular rules that have been

promulgated by the Commission; (2) consult with the attorneys general of the States, rep- resentatives of consumers and industry, and other interested

parties; and (3) consider such other issues as will result in more efficient

implementation of the statutory responsibilities of the Commission.

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act,

the Commission shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on

Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives the information identified in paragraphs (1) through (3), together with specific

recommendations for methods of achieving greater cooperation

between the Commission and the States.

SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 25 (15 U.S.C. 57c), as so redesignated by section 2 of this Act, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘SEC. 25. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the functions, powers, and duties of the Commission not to

exceed $92,700,000 for fiscal year 1994; not to exceed $99,000,000

for fiscal year 1995; and not to exceed $102,000,000 for fiscal

year 1996.’’.

SEC. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICABILITY.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e), the provisions of this Act shall take effect on the

date of enactment of this Act.

(b) APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 5.—The amendment made by section 5 of this Act shall apply only to rulemaking proceedings

initiated after the date of enactment of this Act. Such amendment

shall not be construed to affect in any manner a rulemaking

proceeding which was initiated before the date of enactment of

this Act.

(c) APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 6.—The amendments made by section 6 of this Act shall apply only with respect to cease and

desist orders issued under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) after the date of enactment of this Act.

These amendments shall not be construed to affect in any manner

a cease and desist order which was issued before the date of

enactment of this Act.

(d) APPLICABILITY OF SECTIONS 7 AND 8.—The amendments

made by sections 7 and 8 of this Act shall apply only with respect

to compulsory process issued after the date of enactment of this

Act.

(e) APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 9.—The amendments made by

section 9 of this Act shall apply only with respect to cease and

desist orders issued under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45), or to rules promulgated under section

18 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a) after

the date of enactment of this Act. These amendments shall not

be construed to affect in any manner a cease and desist order

which was issued, or a rule which was promulgated, before the

date of enactment of this Act. These amendments shall not be
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construed to affect in any manner a cease and desist order issued

after the date of enactment of this Act, if such order was issued

pursuant to remand from a court of appeals or the Supreme Court

of an order issued by the Federal Trade Commission before the

date of enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.