Senate Advances Alvaro Bedoya Nomination to Federal Trade Commission

Senate Democrats used a parliamentary maneuver to advance President Biden’s nomination of Georgetown University law professor Alvaro Bedoya to the Federal Trade Commission, setting the stage for Democrats to gain a 3-2 majority on the panel. The Senate voted 51 to 50 along party lines to bypass the Commerce Committee, which had deadlocked over Bedoya, and allow a floor vote on the nomination. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the deciding vote as the Senate’s presiding officer. Bedoya, whose academic work has focused on how technology can disadvantage members of minority groups, was originally nominated by Biden in September 2021. Approval of Bedoya’s nomination by the Senate would give FTC chair Lina Khan the majority she needs to advance an agenda that includes challenging more corporate mergers and adopting regulations to head off what she sees as unfair business tactics. With Bedoya’s expected confirmation to the board, the FTC is expected to adopt first-ever comprehensive online privacy rules for tech firms, as well as rules of the road for industry competition. The agency also could file new enforcement cases against individual companies. A final vote on approving Bedoya is expected in coming days, but this vote signals that he is likely to be confirmed.