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S 1984 97th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedure Antitrust law Antitrust policy Citizen participation Consumer protection Federal Trade Commission Federal preemption Federal-state relations Independent regulatory commissions Lawyers and legal services Legal fees Professions State laws States Unfair or deceptive trade practices

Federal Trade Commission Amendments of 1981

Introduced: December 16, 1981 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 16, 1981
Read second time and referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.
Dec 16, 1981
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Trade Commission Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to exempt from the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) State-regulated professions and their associations.

Eliminates FTC authority to compile information concerning or set forth rules applicable to any person, partnership, or corporation which acts in conformance with State law.

Requires the FTC to reimburse all reasonable costs, including attorney fees, of persons, partnerships, or corporations complying with information requests.

Restricts the authority of the FTC to issue subpoenas.

Defines "unfair method of competition" and "unfair or deceptive act or practice", for purposes of the Act, to be an act which causes substantial consumer injury that outweighs its benefits.

Eliminates the authority of the FTC to conduct adjudicative proceedings for the purpose of issuing cease and desist orders. Requires the Commission to seek injunctive relief in Federal district court.

Repeals the authority of the FTC to award participation costs in rulemaking proceedings.

What's happening now December 16, 1981

Read second time and referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1984: Federal Trade Commission Amendments of 1981. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1984/
MLA
"S. 1984: Federal Trade Commission Amendments of 1981." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1984/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1984, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1984/.
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[S. 1984: Federal Trade Commission Amendments of 1981](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-1984/)
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