Federal Trade Commission Act Amendments of 1994
Public Law 103-312 · H.R. 2243 · 103rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Aug 26, 1994 · Commerce
Sponsor: Rep. Allan Swift (D-WA-2)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. John Dingell
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Federal Trade Commission Act Amendments of 1994 - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to deny authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study, investigate, or prosecute agricultural cooperatives for any action not in violation of antitrust Acts, or to study or investigate agricultural marketing orders.
(Sec. 3) Repeals the authority of the FTC to pay attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other costs of participating in a rulemaking proceeding.
(Sec. 4) Prohibits the FTC from instituting a civil action, in cases involving consent orders, to obtain civil penalties for unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
Permits: (1) a district court to review certain FTC determinations of law which find an act or practice unfair or deceptive; (2) the FTC to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking for certain rules only where it has reason to believe that the unfair or deceptive acts or practices are prevalent; and (3) the FTC to issue civil investigative demands for physical evidence.
(Sec. 6) Revises the effective dates for cease and desist orders issued by the FTC.
(Sec. 9) Requires that an unfair act or practice cause or be likely to cause substantial injury to consumers which is not reasonably avoidable by consumers themselves and not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition.
(Sec. 10) Authorizes a district court to: (1) summon any person, partnership, or corporation without regard to whether they reside or transact business in the district in which a suit claiming false advertisement is brought; and (2) serve process in any district. Specifies requirements for the service of process.
(Sec. 11) Prohibits the FTC from using any authorized funds for the purpose of submitting statements to, appearing before, or intervening in the proceedings of, any Federal or State agency or legislative body concerning proposed rules or legislation that the agency or legislative body is considering, without notifying specified congressional committees as soon as possible.
(Sec. 12) Directs the FTC to: (1) conduct an evaluation of the level of its personnel resources and the manner in which such resources are allocated; and (2) review its statutory responsibilities to identify matters within its jurisdiction where Federal enforcement is particularly necessary or desirable and those areas that might more effectively be enforced at the State or local level.
(Sec. 14) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1994 through 1996.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Transportation and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 36 actions.
- Aug 26, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-312.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Aug 15, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Aug 11, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Jul 26, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
- Jul 25, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Swift moved to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report, H. Rept. 103-617.
- Jul 22, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
- Jul 21, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 103-617 filed.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 103-617 filed.
- Jul 20, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
- Oct 5, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendment agrees to request for a conference, appoints conferees Hollings; Ford; Bryan; Danforth; Gorton.
- Sep 29, 1993Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The Speaker appointed conferees: Dingell, Swift, Manton, Moorhead, and Oxley.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Swift asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and request a conference.
- FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.
- Sep 22, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1179 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 22, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 21, 1993FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Swift moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Jun 17, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jun 8, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.