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S. 4346Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed Senate

Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act

Sponsored by Lindsey GrahamSen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Introduced July 28, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 2:11 PM UTC

The Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act removes the expiration date (sunset provision) from the 2004 antitrust penalty law. By making the law permanent, it keeps in place the enhanced criminal penalties and the leniency program that encourages companies to cooperate with antitrust investigations. The change affects any business or individual that might receive a leniency marker or enter a cooperation agreement with the Justice Department.

Key Provisions

  • Repeals the sunset clause that would have ended the 2004 antitrust penalty enhancements.
  • Restores and keeps active sections 212, 213, and 214 of the 2004 law, which contain the leniency program and related rules.
  • Updates the definition language in section 212 by removing an outdated paragraph and renumbering another.
  • Specifies that the old sunset rules still apply to leniency agreements made on or before June 22 2020, while the repeal applies to agreements made on or after June 23 2020.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

July 30, 2020 • 6:41 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 28, 2020

SenateFloor

Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S4550; text: CR S4550)

July 28, 2020

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

July 30, 2020

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

July 30, 2020 • 6:30 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

July 30, 2020 • 6:41 PM

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued July 28, 2020

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4346

AN ACT

To amend the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 to repeal the sunset provision.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Permanent Extension Act.

2.

Findings; purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

Conspiracies among competitors to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate markets are categorically and irredeemably anticompetitive and contravene the competition policy of the United States.

(2)

Cooperation incentives are important to the efforts of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice to prosecute and deter the offenses described in paragraph (1).

(b)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, is to strengthen public and private antitrust enforcement by providing incentives for antitrust violators to cooperate fully with government prosecutors and private litigants through the repeal of the sunset provision of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 1 note).

3.

Repeal of sunset provision

(a)

Repeal

Section 211 of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 1 note) is repealed.

(b)

Technical and conforming amendments

(1)

Revival and restoration

(A)

In general

Sections 212, 213, and 214 of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 1 note) as in effect on June 21, 2020, and as amended by the laws described in subparagraph (B), are revived and restored.

(B)

Laws

The laws described in this subparagraph are:

(i)

Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 Extension Act (Public Law 111–30; 123 Stat. 1775).

(ii)

The Act entitled An Act to amend the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 to extend the operation of such Act, and for other purposes, approved June 9, 2010 (Public Law 111–90; 124 Stat. 1275).

(2)

Definitions

Section 212 of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 1 note) is amended—

(A)

by striking paragraph (6); and

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (6).

(c)

Applicability

(1)

Markers and agreements before sunset

Notwithstanding the repeal under subsection (a), section 211(b) of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 1 note), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall continue to apply to any person who received a marker or entered into an antitrust leniency agreement on or before June 22, 2020.

(2)

Markers and agreements after sunset

The repeal under subsection (a) shall apply to any person who received a marker or entered into an antitrust leniency agreement on or after June 23, 2020.

Passed the Senate July 28, 2020.

Secretary