Skip to main content
H.R. 5645 115th Congress House

Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018

Official title: To amend the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act to provide that the Federal Trade Commission shall exercise authority with respect to mergers onl… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act to provide that the Federal Trade Commission shall exercise authority with respect to mergers only under the Clayton Act and only in the same procedural manner as the Attorney General exercises such authority.

Introduced: May 3, 2018 See on congress.gov
Commerce Competition and antitrustCorporate finance and managementFederal district courtsJurisdiction and venueSecurities
Sign in to write a letter

Free account. One morning email at most, only on days something moved. Already have one? Sign in.

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 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 10, 2018
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 9, 2018
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Doggett motion to recommit with instructions, the Chair put the question on adoption of the motion and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Doggett demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption until later in the legislative day.
May 9, 2018
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 9, 2018
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 185 (Roll no. 177).
May 9, 2018
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 193 - 220 (Roll no. 176).
May 9, 2018
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3865-3866)
May 9, 2018
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
May 9, 2018
Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Doggett motion to recommit. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the bill back to the House forthwith with an amendment to add a section relating to protecting consumers against high prescription drug costs.
May 9, 2018
Mr. Doggett moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H3857)
May 9, 2018
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 872, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Goodlatte amendment No. 1.
May 9, 2018
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5645.
May 9, 2018
ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Goodlattte asked unanimous consent that the question of adopting the amendment to H.R. 5645 may be subject to postponement as though under clause 8 of rule 20. Agreed to without objection.
May 9, 2018
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5645, H.R. 2152 and S.J. Res. 57. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5645 under a structured rule, with one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2152 under a closed rule, with one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Rule also provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 57 under a closed rule with one motion to commit.
May 9, 2018
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 872. (consideration: CR H5645; text of measure as reported in House: CR H3851)
May 7, 2018
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 872 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5645, H.R. 2152 and S.J. Res. 57. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5645 under a structured rule, with one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2152 under a closed rule, with one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Rule also provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 57 under a closed rule with one motion to commit.
Apr 27, 2018
Introduced in House
Apr 27, 2018
Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
Apr 27, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 9, 2018 House · vote #177 On Passage Passed 230–185 See who voted →
May 9, 2018 House · vote #176 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 193–220 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 577 – An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 115-664 to make a series of technical and clarifying changes … Agreed to May 9, 2018
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 10, 2018

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018

This bill amends the Clayton Act with respect to notice to a state by the Department of Justice (DOJ) about federal actions brought for violations of antitrust laws.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shall exercise the same authority and procedures as DOJ under the Clayton Act if the FTC has brought an action under such Act with respect to the prohibition against acquisition by one corporation of the stock of another (merger) that may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.

The Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) is amended to exclude proposed mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, or similar transactions from ordinary FTC proceedings, except in cases where the FTC approves an agreement with the parties to the transaction that contains a consent order.

U.S. district courts shall have jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus commanding compliance with the FTCA or any FTC order, if the FTC applies to such courts with respect to any activity related to consummation of a merger, acquisition, joint venture, or similar transaction that may result in an unfair method of competition.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HRES 872 Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5645) to amend the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act to pr…
  • S 2847 Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018
  • HR 659 Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2017
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 7
All 7 Democratic 1 Republican 1
Messer, Luke
· May 3, 2018
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · May 3, 2018
Collins, Doug
· Apr 27, 2018
GOODLATTE, ROBERT
· Apr 27, 2018
Marino, Tom
· Apr 27, 2018
 D
Peters, Scott H.
California · Apr 27, 2018
PETERSON, COLLIN
· Apr 27, 2018
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5645: Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5645/
MLA
"H.R. 5645: Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5645/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5645, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5645/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5645: Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2018](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-5645/)
Report a problem