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S 2058 110th Congress Senate Finance and Financial Sector Administrative procedure Commodity Futures Trading Commission Commodity exchanges Electric power Energy Energy prices Fraud Futures trading Gasoline Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Heating Independent regulatory commissions Law Methane Natural gas Petroleum Propane

Close the Enron Loophole Act

Introduced: September 17, 2007 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 17, 2007
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11597-11600)
Sep 17, 2007
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11596-11597, S11600-11603)
Sep 17, 2007
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Close the Enron Loophole Act - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to provide that it applies to an agreement, contract, or transaction in an exempt commodity that is executed or traded on an electronic trading facility that is an energy trading center.

Prohibits any person from entering into an agreement, contract, or transaction for future delivery of an energy commodity that is not a spot sale of cash commodity or a sale of a cash commodity for deferred shipment or delivery on or through an energy trading facility that is not registered as such with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Sets forth registration criteria.

Requires CFTC to ensure that the position limits and accountability levels applicable to contracts in an energy commodity listed for trading on a designated contract market and similar contracts in the same energy commodity listed for trading on an energy trading facility: (1) prevent price manipulation, excessive speculation, price distortion, and disruption of the delivery or cash-settlement process; and (2) are on a parity with each other and are applied in a functionally equivalent manner.

Requires CFTC to take necessary action to direct an energy trading facility or a designated contract market to require a person who has exceeded an applicable position limit or accountability level in an energy commodity to limit, reduce, or liquidate any position to prevent or reduce the threat of price manipulation, excessive speculation, price distortion, or disruption of the delivery or cash-settlement process.

Sets forth provisions concerning the provision of information and records about energy trading contracts to CFTC.

Revises provisions concerning the prohibition on energy contracts designed to defraud or mislead, including by prohibiting any person from cheating or defrauding another person in connection with any contract of sale of any commodity in interstate commerce or for future delivery that is made subject to the rules of a designated contract market for or on behalf of any such person (currently the provisions prohibit members of registered entities, correspondent agents, or employees of members from such actions.)

Requires CFTC to issue a rule regarding the requirements for an application for registration for an energy trading facility.

What's happening now September 17, 2007

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11597-11600)

 Committees of jurisdiction 1