Consumer Protection Remedies Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced
Summary
Expands the Federal Trade Commission's power to seek equitable relief and monetary remedies. This bill would broaden when the FTC can sue and what courts can order, letting judges grant temporary or permanent injunctions and a wider set of monetary and non‑monetary remedies when doing so serves the public interest.
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- Consumers: People harmed by deceptive or unfair practices could get restitution, refunds, or contract rescission or reform. Relief is tied to harms within a 10‑year lookback period.
- Businesses and defendants: Companies could face disgorgement of unjust enrichment, but courts must offset disgorgement by any restitution ordered. Disgorgement is limited to gains in the 10 years before suit and excludes time spent outside the United States.
- Courts and enforcement: The FTC could seek relief earlier by acting on conduct that "is about to violate" the law and obtain temporary or preliminary equitable relief. The bill also removes certain bond rules and makes technical fixes to Section 16 language, including correcting "subpena" to "subpoena."
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Stronger consumer protection tools
If enacted, this bill would give the Federal Trade Commission more legal tools to help people harmed by unfair or deceptive business practices. It would let the Commission sue for past as well as ongoing or imminent violations by adding the phrase "has violated, is violating, or is about to violate." In covered suits, courts would be able to order restitution, refunds, contract rescission or reform, and disgorgement of unjust gains. Disgorgement would be offset by any restitution and limited to unjust enrichment from the 10 years before the Commission's suit, excluding time the defendant spent outside the United States. Courts could also grant permanent or temporary equitable relief if there is proper proof and the relief is in the public interest, and the bill clarifies emergency-order standards and removes an explicit bond phrase. These changes would apply to actions started on or after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov