Pallone & Schakowsky Highlight Key Consumer Protection & Commerce Provisions in Omnibus

Press Release

Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following joint statement today after introduction of the fiscal year 2023 omnibus funding package, which included commonsense bills to protect consumers and promote the economy.

"The final omnibus package includes critical pieces of legislation that will protect American consumers, bolster our manufacturing industry here at home, and promote our economic competitiveness on the world stage.

"This end-of-year package is in lock step with our Committee's commitment to put consumers first. It includes legislation that will help curb the onslaught of counterfeit, defective, and unsafe products available to Americans shopping on third-party e-commerce sites--a major source of fake and unsafe goods. It also includes commonsense provisions to keep dangerous furniture products that can tip over on small children off the market and out of our homes.

"This sweeping omnibus package also enhances our nation's manufacturing industry to promote America's global economic competitiveness and supports our domestic travel and tourism industries by developing a 10-year strategy that will help to attract visitors from around the globe to the United States for years to come. We look forward to having all of these important provisions signed into law."

Specifically, the omnibus includes consumer protection and commerce provisions that:

Establish a national standard, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and State Attorneys General, that require online platforms that allow third party sellers of consumer products to verify the identity of high-volume third-party sellers, enabling consumers to obtain basic identification and contact information for certain sellers. This provision was authored by Schakowsky and Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Ranking Member Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
Direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate a consumer product safety standard for free standing clothing storage units to protect children up to 72 months of age from tip-over related death or injury. This provision was authored by Schakowsky.
Require the Department of Commerce to establish a section of the manufacturing.gov website to serve as the primary hub for information relating to federal manufacturing programs. This provision was authored by Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY), Cindy Axne (D-IA), and Fred Upton (R-MI).
Establish the position of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to be appointed by the President, tasked with developing a 10-year strategy with annual goals to boost the industry and aggregating data on domestic travel and tourism trends.
Require the FTC to report on cross-border complaints received that involve ransomware or other cyber-related attacks committed by certain foreign individuals, companies, and governments. The report must focus specifically on attacks committed by Russia, China, North Korea, or Iran or individuals or companies that are located in or have ties to those countries. This provision was authored by Schakowsky and Bilirakis.
Authorize $2.5 million for the CPSC to carry out an education and awareness campaign to inform the public of methods to prevent drowning and entrapment in swimming pools.

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