SRES-314-119
Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4490; text: 07/08/2025 CR S4259)
Sponsored by Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
What it does
This Senate resolution designates July 2025 as "National Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month." It expresses the Senate's support for public education campaigns about the dangers of counterfeit goods and reaffirms the Senate's commitment to combating counterfeiting. The resolution carries no legal force, creates no new law, and does not authorize any spending or regulatory action.
Who benefits
Brand owners and trademark holders whose intellectual property is harmed by counterfeiting. Legitimate manufacturers and retailers who compete against counterfeit goods. Consumers who may become better informed about counterfeit product risks through awareness campaigns. Anti-counterfeiting advocacy organizations and trade groups that gain a platform for their messaging. Federal and state enforcement agencies whose missions are publicly affirmed.
Who is hurt
This resolution has no binding legal effect, so no group faces a direct material harm. Counterfeiters and those who profit from the sale of fake goods are symbolically targeted. Some consumer advocates might note that a non-binding resolution does not provide additional resources or legal tools to address the problem it identifies.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that public awareness is one of the most cost-effective tools against counterfeiting, and that a formal Senate designation amplifies education campaigns already run by federal agencies and private organizations. They point to specific data in the resolution — including 60 million fentanyl-laced fake pills seized in 2024 and over $5.4 billion in counterfeit goods seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection — to argue that the scale of the problem warrants national attention and coordinated messaging.
Opponents argue
Opponents might argue that a non-binding commemorative resolution does nothing to address the documented harms it cites — no new enforcement funding, no updated penalties, and no additional regulatory authority. They could contend that the Senate's time and credibility are better spent on substantive legislation, and that designating an awareness month without accompanying action may give the appearance of addressing a serious public safety problem without meaningfully doing so.