Sen Klobuchar Reintroduces Bill to Promote Competition and Improve Antitrust Enforcement

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, reintroduced legislation to reinvigorate America’s antitrust laws and restore competition to American markets. The Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act will give federal enforcers the resources they need to do their jobs, strengthen prohibitions on anticompetitive conduct and mergers, and make additional reforms to improve enforcement. This bill is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Tina Smith (D-MN). Harmful exclusionary practices by dominant companies—such as refusals to deal with rivals, restrictive contracting, and predatory pricing—squelch competition. U.S. antitrust law enforcement against powerful firms has lagged behind efforts in other developed countries, particularly when it comes to enforcement against the dominant digital platforms and other large corporations. To remedy these longstanding issues, the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act will:

1. Increase Enforcement Resources
2. Strengthen Prohibitions Against Anticompetitive Mergers
3. Prevent Harmful Dominant Firm Conduct
4. The legislation would establish a new, independent FTC division to conduct market studies and merger retrospectives.
5. Implement Additional Reforms to Enhance Antitrust Enforcement