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Klobuchar to Chair Antitrust Subcommittee, Lee to Continue as Ranking Member

Senators lay out bipartisan agenda for 113th Congress

January 31, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today announced that she will chair the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, with Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) as the Ranking Member.

“Protecting our consumers while promoting innovation and competition is what keeps this country strong,”said Klobuchar. “During my time in the Senate I have fought tirelessly on behalf of consumers and worked hard to advance innovation to move our economy forward, and that is what I will continue to do as chair of the Antitrust Subcommittee.”

"I look forward to continuing to be active on this important subcommittee, which plays a key role in helping ensure that our nation’s antitrust laws are faithfully administered to protect fair competition and maximize consumer welfare,"said Lee.  "Antitrust enforcers must not pick winners and losers in the marketplace or interfere with private enterprise where robust market forces are present.  But properly limited antitrust enforcement helps competition thrive and can forestall burdensome regulatory structures that impose great costs on our economy and society. Senator Kohl and I made progress on these issues in the last Congress and I look forward to continuing that good work with Senator Klobuchar."

Senators Klobuchar and Lee said that this Congress the Subcommittee will continue the Subcommittee’s oversight of antitrust enforcement at the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission, monitor the state of competition in a variety of industries, and examine important developments in antitrust law, policy, and competitive markets.  Whether involving prescription drugs, airline consolidation, media and video services, wireless and broadband connections, Internet search and other e-commerce, or a variety of intellectual property issues, the Senators said they will continue to help ensure that competition thrives and best serves consumers.  

In addition to serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Klobuchar also serves on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee; and the Joint Economic Committee. Klobuchar also chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion. Klobuchar is the only Senator to chair subcommittees on both the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee – putting her at the intersection of American business, law and commerce. 

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