S. 1551

Improved Transportation Consumer Protection Act of 2023

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II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1551

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 11, 2023

Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Welch, Mr. Luján, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Markey, and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish an Office of Consumer Protection in the Department of Transportation, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improved Transportation Consumer Protection Act of 2023.

2.

Establishment of Office of Consumer Protection

Section 102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (e)(1)—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 7 and inserting 8; and

(B)

in subparagraph (A), by striking and an Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and inserting an Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, and an Assistant Secretary for Consumer Protection; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(j)

Office of Consumer Protection

(1)

Establishment

There is established in the Department an Office of Consumer Protection (referred to in this subsection as the Office) to administer and enforce the authority provided to the Department by statute—

(A)

to assist, educate, and protect consumers;

(B)

to monitor compliance with, conduct investigations relating to, and enforce, including by taking appropriate action to address violations of, consumer protection, civil rights, and licensing requirements; and

(C)

to promulgate, as appropriate, consumer protection and civil rights regulations.

(2)

Leadership

The Office shall be headed by the Assistant Secretary for Consumer Protection (referred to in this subsection as the Assistant Secretary).

(3)

Coordination

The Assistant Secretary shall coordinate with the General Counsel appointed under subsection (e)(1)(E), in accordance with section 1.26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on all legal matters relating to—

(A)

consumer protection; or

(B)

the duties and activities of the Office described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1).

(4)

Annual report

The Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress and make publicly available on the website of the Department an annual report that, with respect to matters under the jurisdiction of the Department, or otherwise within the statutory authority of the Department to address—

(A)

analyzes trends in consumer protection, civil rights, and licensing;

(B)

identifies major challenges facing consumers; and

(C)

addresses any other relevant issues, as the Assistant Secretary determines to be appropriate.

.