Rep. Neguse Introduces Proposals to Strengthen Protections for American Consumers and Small Business

Washington, D.C. — This week, Congressman Joe Neguse, a Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, submitted several amendments to better protect consumers and small business to the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriation Bills for Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS). Of the proposals submitted, two protect implementation of the new merger filing guidelines, which helps support antitrust enforcement and ensure corporate parties are providing all the necessary information to agencies reviewing their mergers. Other measures highlight the funding level requested for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency responsible for promoting consumer protection, as well as the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. 

Last year, the Congress enacted the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act, Rep. Neguse’s legislation to ensure antitrust authorities have the necessary resources to protect consumers, into law as part of the year-end Omnibus Funding Bill. His proposal updates merger filing fees for the first time since 2001, lowering the burden on small and medium-sized businesses, and raising enough revenue so that taxpayer dollars aren’t required to fund necessary increases to agency enforcement budgets. 

“As House Republicans threaten to cut funding for agencies and programs that ensure the wealthy and well connected are paying their fair share, I am fighting back against these harmful proposals by introducing amendments to protect the wellbeing of Colorado consumers and small business owners,” said Congressman Neguse. 

To better protect consumers and small business, Congressman Neguse submitted the following amendments: 

• To strike provisions from the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act that prevent the implementation of the new merger filing guidelines. 
• To strike provisions from the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that prevent the implementation of the new merger filing guidelines. 
• To highlight the funding level requested in the President's Budget Request for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for antitrust enforcement. 
• To highlight the funding level requested in the President's Budget Request for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (Antitrust Division). 

Through his role on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust, Congressman Neguse has played a leading role in advocating for proper antitrust enforcement. Neguse has successfully introduced and enacted several bills to better protect consumers and small businesses; this includes measures to update merger filing fees, protect antitrust whistleblowers, reauthorize a critical antitrust enforcement program, and provide relief to local entrepreneurs.  

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