537
HR 3 IH1S 
‘(b) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—
Nothing in this section shall be construed—
‘(1) as preventing an attorney general from ex-
ercising the powers conferred on the attorney gen-
eral by the laws of such State to conduct investiga-
tions or to administer oaths or affirmations or to 
compel the attendance of witnesses or the production 
of documentary and other evidence; 
‘(2) as prohibiting a State official from pro-
ceeding in State court to enforce a criminal statute 
of the State; 
‘(3) as authorizing a State or political subdivi-
sion of a State to bring an enforcement action under 
a consumer protection law, regulation, or other pro-
vision of the State relating to interstate transpor-
tation of household goods (as defined in section 
13102(10)(A)) with respect to an activity that is in-
consistent with Federal laws and regulations relating 
to interstate transportation of household goods; or 
‘(4) as authorizing a State, as parens patriae, 
to bring a class civil action on behalf of its residents 
to enforce a regulation or order of the Secretary or 
Board. 
‘(c) ACTIONS
BY
THE SECRETARY
OR BOARD.—
Whenever a civil action has been instituted by or on behalf
538
HR 3 IH1S 
of the Secretary or Board for violation of section 14915, 
no State may, during the pendency of such action, insti-
tute a civil action under subsection (a) against any defend-
ant named in the complaint relating to such violation. 
‘(d) VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS.—Any civil action 
to be brought under subsection (a) in a district court of 
the United States may be brought in the district in which 
the defendant is found, is an inhabitant, or transacts busi-
ness or wherever venue is proper under section 1391 of 
title 28. Process in such an action may be served in any 
district in which the defendant is an inhabitant or in which 
the defendant may be found.’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘14506. Enforcement of Federal regulations by State attorneys general.’.
SEC. 4202. ARBITRATION REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) OFFERING SHIPPERS ARBITRATION.—Section 
14708(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘and 
to determine whether carrier charges, in addition to those 
collected at delivery, must be paid by the shipper for trans-
portation and services related to the transportation of 
household goods’.
539
HR 3 IH1S 
(b) THRESHOLD FOR BINDING ARBITRATION.—Sec-
tion 14708(b)(6) of such title is amended by striking 
‘$5,000’ each place it appears and inserting ‘$10,000’. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR DECISION.—Section 14708(b)(8) 
of such title is amended—
(1) by striking ‘and’; and 
(2) by inserting after ‘for damages’ the fol-
lowing: ‘, and an order requiring the payment of ad-
ditional carrier charges’. 
(d) ATTORNEY’S
FEES
TO
SHIPPERS.—Section 
14708(d)(3) of such title is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘(A) the shipper was not advised by the carrier 
during the claim settlement process that a dispute 
settlement program was available to resolve the dis-
pute;’. 
SEC. 4203. CIVIL PENALTIES RELATING TO HOUSEHOLD 
GOODS 
BROKERS 
AND 
UNAUTHORIZED 
TRANSPORTATION. 
Section 14901(d) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended—
540
HR 3 IH1S 
(1) by striking ‘If a carrier’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a carrier’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘(2) ESTIMATE OF BROKER WITHOUT CARRIER 
AGREEMENT.—If a broker for transportation of 
household goods subject to jurisdiction under sub-
chapter I of chapter 135 makes an estimate of the 
cost of transporting any such goods before entering 
into an agreement with a carrier to provide trans-
portation of household goods subject to such juris-
diction, the broker is liable to the United States for 
a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 for each vio-
lation. 
‘(3) UNAUTHORIZED
TRANSPORTATION.—If a 
person provides transportation of household goods 
subject to jurisdiction under subchapter I of chapter 
135 or provides broker services for such transpor-
tation without being registered under chapter 139 to 
provide such transportation or services as a motor 
carrier or broker, as the case may be, such person 
is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of 
not less than $25,000 for each violation.’.
541
HR 3 IH1S 
SEC. 4204. CIVIL PENALTY FOR HOLDING HOUSEHOLD 
GOODS HOSTAGE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 149 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘§ 14915. Holding household goods hostage 
‘(a) HOLDING HOUSEHOLD GOODS HOSTAGE DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘holding 
household goods hostage’’ means the knowing and willful 
refusal to relinquish possession of a shipment of household 
goods described in section 13102(10)(A) upon payment of 
not more than 100 percent of a binding estimate (or, in 
the case of a nonbinding estimate, not more than 110 per-
cent of the estimated charges for such shipment). 
‘(b) CIVIL PENALTY.—Whoever is found holding a 
household goods shipment hostage is liable to the United 
States for a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 for each 
violation. If such person is a carrier or broker, the Sec-
retary may suspend for a period of not less than 6 months 
the registration of such carrier or broker under chapter 
139.’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘14915. Holding household goods hostage.’.