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

119th Congress Introduced by Becca Balint and 1 co-sponsor

The FTC must investigate anticompetitive practices in fire truck manufacturing and report findings and potential remedies to Congress within one year.

Introduced in House

Summary of H.J.Res. 203 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)

A joint resolution directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate anticompetitive practices in the fire truck manufacturing industry and report findings to Congress.

Purpose and intent

The bill directs the FTC to investigate alleged violations of the antitrust laws within the fire truck manufacturing industry.

It aims to assess how market consolidation, acquisitions, and other anticompetitive practices may affect prices, delivery times, and public safety outcomes for fire departments and related entities.

The resolution seeks to inform potential legislative or remedial actions based on the FTC’s findings.

Key provisions and changes proposed

Direction to investigate: The FTC shall examine the extent of anticompetitive practices and violations of antitrust laws (as defined by the Clayton Act) in the fire truck manufacturing industry.

Specific focus areas during investigation:

Price fixing
Price gouging
Serial acquisitions and consolidation
Monopolization

Assessment of impacts:

Effects of anticompetitive practices on firefighters, fire departments, states, municipalities, and small businesses
Monetary and other harms associated with these practices

Reporting timeline:

The FTC must report to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on the Judiciary no later than one year after the resolution’s adoption.

Content of FTC report:

Whether and to what extent anticompetitive practices exist in the industry
The impact on public safety and government entities that procure fire trucks
Recommendations for potential legislation or other remedial actions

Contingent reporting if information is incomplete:

If a respondent does not provide timely information to the FTC, the FTC shall report on the conduct of that respondent to the same Congressional committees.

Who would be affected

Fire departments, including municipal, state, and regional entities that purchase fire trucks

Firefighters and public safety personnel benefiting from timely access to reliable equipment

Fire truck manufacturers and their business practices, particularly those involved in consolidation, acquisitions, or pricing strategies

Local governments and taxpayers, through the potential impact on procurement costs and delivery timelines

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Introduced in the House on July 21, 2026; referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

Required action: FTC investigation and final report due within one year of adoption

Report recipients: Committee on the Judiciary, Senate and House, respectively

Potential impact and context

Heightens scrutiny on market concentration in a sector with significant capital equipment and long lead times

If findings identify anticompetitive behavior, could lead to legislative proposals, regulatory actions, or enforcement priorities to restore competition and address price and delivery concerns

Addresses public safety implications by tying market structure to capability and readiness of fire services

Note: The bill does not itself amend existing antitrust statutes but directs an official inquiry by the FTC and a formal Congressional report with recommendations.