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Earlier today, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee released its Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill and report for Fiscal Year 2025. As we reported in our April 19th notice, and as a direct result of TRAA advocacy efforts during our Hill Day and subsequent lobbing, the bill includes the following report language:
Junk Fees.—The Committee is concerned by the broad scope of the FTC’s proposed rule ‘‘Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees’’. While truly deceptive and excessive fees are important to combat, expected fees, such as large party service fees and delivery fees at restaurants, as well as fees not included in the proposed rule, such as towing fees for commercial motor vehicles, lack the necessary evidence to prove their inclusion would be beneficial in the final rule. In short, the FTC has failed to demonstrate that the broad scope of the proposed rule will not impose burdens and costs in certain areas of the economy that are not offset by countervailing benefits. The Committee encourages the FTC to ensure such fees are omitted from the scope of any final rule. [Emphasis added]
The bill will be marked up in full committee tomorrow and is expected to be included in the version that passes the House of Representatives, likely next month. This language is a powerful tool through the House of Representatives is communicating its disapproval of FTC overreach in including towing in its junk fees rule. This report language will be noticed by the FTC staff immediately and will play an important role in continuing to build support for our efforts. This is an important building block in our work to fight this unfair regulation, and one that would not have been accomplished without the support and efforts from each and every one of you.
Please do not hesitate to contact TRAA with any questions.
Sincerely,
David J. Garriepy
Vice President, Government Affairs
Tremont Strategies Group (TSG)
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