The Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution on July 30 designating July as “National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month.” The resolution, introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, aims to educate Americans about the economic importance of trademarks and their role in protecting consumers from counterfeit goods.
Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii cosponsored the measure. Grassley said, “Counterfeit goods endanger consumers, harm businesses and threaten the U.S. economy. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort as Judiciary Chairman to raise awareness of the dangers of illicit knockoffs and the value of protecting American trademarks and intellectual property.”
Coons said, “To ensure our nation remains the global leader in innovation, we must secure Americans’ intellectual property rights. That includes combatting the counterfeit goods that steal our incomes, endanger our safety, and degrade trust in the products we buy. As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Trademark Caucus, I’m proud to mark July as Anti-Counterfeiting Month to help raise awareness of the harms of counterfeit goods and the importance of trademarks to our intellectual property system.”
Tillis said, “For too long, counterfeit products have threatened American businesses and put consumers at a serious risk. I’m proud to support this resolution recognizing the importance of protecting trademarks and raising awareness on the dangers of counterfeiting.” Hirono added, “The rise of online shopping has heightened the long-standing threat counterfeit goods pose to American businesses and consumers. By recognizing the importance of protecting trademarks and raising awareness about the dangers of counterfeiting, this resolution reaffirms the importance of protecting American consumers from deceptive and harmful products.”
Grassley has advocated for consumer safety measures for decades. In 2021, he supported passage into law for legislation ensuring transparency among third-party sellers in online marketplaces. During this Congress session, he introduced additional bipartisan bills aimed at strengthening laws against money laundering related to counterfeiting activities.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for legislative oversight related to constitutional protections, public safety nationwide—including civil rights—and federal judicial matters under its chair’s leadership, according to the official website.