Senate Panel Ties on Legislation to Restore FTC Refund Power

A Senate panel split along party lines Wednesday on a bill to empower the Federal Trade Commission to seek monetary awards for consumers in court.

No Republicans voted in favor of the measure (S. 4145). Ranking member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) suggested, however, that a compromise could be included in the broad China competition package that lawmakers will begin negotiating this week.

Under the committee bill, the FTC would be able to ask a federal judge to order a refund of money wrongfully taken from consumers. The FTC also would have clear authority to sue a business over ...