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HR 3409 115th Congress House

Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act of 2017

Official title: To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit pyramid promotional schemes and to ensure that compensation is not based upon recruitment of participants… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit pyramid promotional schemes and to ensure that compensation is not based upon recruitment of participants into a plan or operation, but on sales to individuals who use and consume the products or services sold, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 24, 2017 Introduced by: Blackburn, Marsha Republican · Tennessee See on congress.gov
Commerce Consumer affairsFinancial services and investmentsFraud offenses and financial crimesMarketing and advertising
This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 28, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.
Jul 26, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 26, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 28, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Anti-Pyramid Scheme Act of 2017

This bill amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to make it unlawful for any person to establish, operate, or promote a pyramid promotional scheme. "Pyramid promotional scheme" means any plan or operation in which individuals pay consideration for the right to receive compensation that is based upon recruiting other individuals into the plan or operation rather than primarily related to the sale of products or services to ultimate users.

Furthermore, any person who establishes, operates, or promotes any plan or operation which sells or solicits the sale of consumer products or services in the home or otherwise outside of a permanent retail establishment, and which sells products or services to independent salespeople, shall have a bona fide inventory repurchase agreement.

A violation of the bill shall be treated under the Act as an unfair or deceptive act or practice in, or affecting, commerce.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3409: Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3409/
MLA
"H.R. 3409: Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3409/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3409, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3409/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3409: Anti-Pyramid Promotional Scheme Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-3409/)
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