International Consumer Protection Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4996
Sponsor: Rep. Stearns, Cliff [R-FL-6]
Introduced: 2004-07-22 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Bank records
Business records
Canada
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Collection of accounts
Conferences
Confidential communications
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer complaints
Consumer protection
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime prevention
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Electronic mail systems
Evidence (Law)
Federal Trade Commission
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Fraud
Fugitives from justice
Government Operations and Politics
Government attorneys
Government ethics
Government paperwork
Government travel
Independent regulatory commissions
Injunctions
International Affairs
International agencies
International cooperation
Internet
Labor and Employment
Latin America
Law
Liability (Law)
Mexico
Reciprocity
Restrictive trade practices
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
State-sponsored terrorism
Subpoena
Technical assistance
Telecommunication industry
Telephone
Temporary employment
Transfer of employees
Travel costs
Treaties
Witnesses

Summary:
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: 
International Consumer Protection Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to include within unfair or deceptive acts or practices those involving foreign commerce that: (1) cause or are likely to cause reasonably foreseeable injury within the United States; or (2) involve material conduct occurring within the United States.
 
Makes available to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with respect to such acts in foreign commerce all remedies it uses in domestic commerce, including restitution to domestic or foreign victims.
 
Sets forth FTC powers, including authority to provide investigative assistance for foreign law enforcement agencies.
 
Authorizes FTC attorneys to assist the Attorney General in foreign litigation and FTC sharing of information with foreign law enforcement agencies.
 
Applies to the FTC the procedures for delay of notification or prohibition of disclosure under the Right to Financial Privacy Act and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act where a court or the FTC finds that notification may cause an adverse result. Authorizes the FTC, where neither notification nor delayed notification are required, to apply ex parte for a court order prohibiting the recipient of compulsory process issued by the FTC from disclosing to any other person the existence of such process.
 
Sets forth guidelines for the protection of specified entities who volunteer information to the FTC.
 
Permits the temporary exchange of staff between the FTC and foreign government agencies in order to facilitate implementation of this Act. 
 
Amends the Right to Financial Privacy Act to permit the FTC to exchange information with specified financial regulators.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1514)
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Introduced in House