Today, the U.S. House voted to pass the “Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act,” a package of bills introduced by Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Ken Buck (R-CO) to increase funding for federal antitrust enforcement agencies and support state attorney general antitrust enforcement through more favorable venue rules. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 242-184.
Public Knowledge led a letter signed by more than 35 public interest, consumer advocacy, unions, and civil society groups urging Congress to pass the bill to enable these agencies to “properly fulfill their role safeguarding the economy and consumers from anticompetitive conduct and harmful mergers.”
Public Knowledge applauds the House Judiciary Committee for their leadership in helping our antitrust enforcement agencies keep up with the increasing number of mergers and costs of the merger review process.
The following can be attributed to Charlotte Slaiman, Competition Policy Director at Public Knowledge:
“It is wonderful to see Congress finally act to support our antitrust enforcers by passing the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act. For many years, antitrust enforcers feared that Congress would cut their funding if they did too much to protect consumers and promote a healthy marketplace. Now Congress speaks clearly on antitrust: The strategy of underenforcement is over. But this is one victory in a broader fight. It’s imperative Congress build off this bipartisan momentum and pass the American Innovation and Choice Online Act by the end of the year. Congress must not squander this fleeting opportunity.”
You may view the letter to learn more about how this bill would help our antitrust enforcers and consumers.
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.