WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation, the Antitrust Modernization Commission Extension Act of 2007 (H.R. 742), to extend the termination date for the Antitrust Modernization Commission (AMC) to 60 days after the commission's report to the president and to Congress.

Currently, the commission is scheduled to dissolve 30 days after the report is presented. The AMC is expected to present its report by the April 2, 2007, deadline.

H.R. 742 was co-sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas). Both Conyers and Smith moved to postpone the commission's termination date so that it may have time to wrap up and finalize its report and shut down its operations. This deadline extension will not delay the submission of the AMC's report.

The AMC was created by Congress to provide a complete and extensive report on whether antitrust laws in the United States need to be modernized. This report will incorporate a variety of testimony and views from various parties associated with the function of antitrust laws.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) worked with the House Judiciary Committee in support of the legislation establishing the AMC. The AMC consists of 12 bipartisan members. Of the 12 members, President George W. Bush, the Senate and the House each commissioned four. The deadline for the report is April 2007, when it will be submitted to Congress and President Bush.

For more information on the AMC, visit ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com.