Directing the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and report on anticompetitive practices and violations of the antitrust laws in the fire truck manufacturing industry.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.J. Res. 203 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. J. RES. 203 Directing the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and report on anticompetitive practices and violations of the antitrust laws in the fire truck manufacturing industry. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 21, 2026 Ms. Balint (for herself and Mr. Cline) submitted the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ JOINT RESOLUTION Directing the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and report on anticompetitive practices and violations of the antitrust laws in the fire truck manufacturing industry. Whereas section 6 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 46) and the matter under the heading ``FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION'' of the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1934 (15 U.S.C. 46a) authorize Congress, through a resolution passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, to direct the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and report the facts relating to any alleged violations of the antitrust laws by any corporation; Whereas there have been credible allegations of violations of the antitrust laws in the fire truck manufacturing industry; Whereas the fire truck manufacturing industry has become increasingly consolidated over the last decade, largely due to serial acquisitions of independent fire truck manufacturers by private equity firms and larger manufacturers; Whereas the Merger Guidelines issued by the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice clarify that the antitrust agencies may examine the cumulative effect of a whole series of acquisitions if an individual transaction is part of a firm's pattern or strategy of multiple acquisitions; Whereas 3 companies control 70 to 80 percent of th