The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has approved the Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at curbing fraud in the residential moving industry.

The legislation, championed by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), passed without amendments and will now move forward in the legislative process.

The bill, co-led by Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) and Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), seeks to empower the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with stronger enforcement tools to protect consumers. Lawmakers say the legislation is designed to address a surge in schemes involving companies that collect upfront payments and then hold customers’ belongings hostage unless additional fees are paid.

Many

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