Congressional Antitrust Caucus
{{Short description|Caucus in the US House of Representatives}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox political party
| logo = Seal of the United States Congress.svg
| colorcode = #A9A9A9
| position = Bipartisan
| leader1_title = Co-Chairs (as of March 2023)
| leader1_name = Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) and David Cicilline (D-RI)
| seats2_title = Seats in the House
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|4|435|hex=#A9A9A9}}
}}
The Congressional Antitrust Caucus is a bipartisan congressional caucus in the United States House of Representatives formed in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Swartz |first=Jon |date=2023-02-02 |title=Congressional members announce antitrust caucus to hold Big Tech accountable |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/congressional-members-announce-antitrust-caucus-to-hold-big-tech-accountable-2023-02-02 |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=MarketWatch |language=EN-US}}{{Cite web |last=Luning |first=Ernest |date=2023-02-06 |title=Buck, Cicilline launch bipartisan antitrust caucus aimed at holding massive tech firms to account |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/colorado-in-dc/buck-cicilline-launch-bipartisan-antitrust-caucus-aimed-at-holding-massive-tech-firms-to-account/article_6d9f5822-a66f-11ed-9932-4ba80dc81296.html |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Colorado Politics |language=en}} Co-founded by representatives David Cicilline (D-RI) and Ken Buck (R-CO), the caucus is composed of individuals supportive of reinvigorating antitrust enforcement.{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=2023-02-02 |title=Bipartisan Lawmaker Duo Starts Big Tech Antitrust Caucus |language=en |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-02/bipartisan-lawmakers-launch-big-tech-antitrust-caucus |access-date=2023-02-19}} A caucus with the same name was established during the 115th United States Congress in October 2017.{{Cite web |last=Crampton |first=Liz |date=December 6, 2017 |title=House Democrats Take Issue With Big Mergers |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/house-democrats-take-issue-with-big-mergers |access-date=March 22, 2023 |website=Bloomberg Law |language=en |quote=Some of the sponsors are also members of the House Antitrust Caucus, which was formed in October to educate members and staff about competition policy.}}
Background and history
According to Bloomberg, Buck and Cicilline founded the caucus in the 118th Congress in order to "keep a focus on reforming US antitrust laws to curb the power" of Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook parent company Meta Platforms. During the previous congressional session, a bipartisan effort championed by both members to rein in the market power of the four "Big Tech" ultimately did not pass.
In February 2023, co-chair Cicilline announced he would resign from Congress, effective June 1, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Nesi |first1=Ted |date=21 February 2023 |title=Cicilline to leave Congress, lead RI Foundation |url=https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/cicilline-to-leave-congress-lead-ri-foundation/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=WPRI.com |publisher=WPRI}}
Membership
= 117th Congress =
Membership of the Congressional Antitrust Caucus as of March 24, 2023:{{Cite web |title=Congressional Antitrust Caucus - Summary from LegiStorm |url=https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/145426/Congressional_Antitrust_Caucus.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=www.legistorm.com}}
- David Cicilline (D-RI) - co-chair and co-founder (note: Cicilline resigned from Congress on June 1, 2023)
- Ken Buck (R-CO) - co-chair and co-founder
- Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
- Ro Khanna (D-CA)
- Mark Pocan (D-WI)