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Read. Follow. Verify.1977 Congressional Hearings on Antitrust Law Enforcement (H.R. 8359)
Record date · July 14, 2026
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What This Bill Does
This document contains the official transcript and records of the House on Monopolies and Commercial Law regarding H.R. 8359, a bill proposed in 1977 to strengthen federal antitrust enforcement. The hearings took place over four days in September and October 1977 to evaluate the effectiveness of existing competition laws.
The hearings represent the legislative record for H.R. 8359, which sought to modify how the federal government investigates and prosecutes anti-competitive business practices, directly impacting the regulatory authority of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Federal antitrust regulators
The bill proposed changes to the enforcement powers and procedures used by agencies like the Department of Justice.
Business entities
Companies subject to antitrust oversight would be impacted by changes to how competition laws are enforced.
Key Facts
- The hearings were held on September 9, September 16, October 6, and October 20, 1977.
- The primary subject of the hearings was H.R. 8359, titled 'a bill to restore effective enforcement of the antitrust laws'.
- The hearings were conducted by the Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law of the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- The purpose of the hearings was to gather testimony and evidence regarding the efficacy of current antitrust enforcement mechanisms.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Extended Hearing Schedule
The hearings were spread across four distinct dates over a six-week period, suggesting a thorough review process for the proposed legislation.
Connected Entities
Sources
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Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz5Current news / social attention level
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