The Correcting Lapsed Enforcement in Antitrust Norms for Mergers Act (S. 4434) is a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on April 29, 2026, by Senator Cory Booker, with co-sponsors Senators Elizabeth Warren, Martin Heinrich, Christopher Murphy, and Mazie Hirono. The bill aims to amend the Clayton Act to strengthen antitrust enforcement by mandating the divestiture of certain transactions that may reduce competition. Specifically, it seeks to address and reverse mergers or acquisitions that have led to decreased market competition, ensuring that such transactions do not harm consumers or the economy.
Supporters of S. 4434 argue that the bill is a necessary step to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement in the United States. They believe that by mandating the divestiture of anti-competitive mergers, the legislation will promote fair competition, prevent monopolistic practices, and protect consumer interests. Proponents highlight that the bill addresses gaps in current antitrust laws and provides regulators with clearer authority to act against harmful corporate consolidations.
Critics of S. 4434 contend that the bill could create uncertainty for businesses and potentially deter beneficial mergers and acquisitions. They argue that the legislation may lead to overreach by regulators, resulting in unnecessary divestitures that could disrupt markets and harm economic growth. Opponents also express concern that the bill's provisions might be applied retroactively, affecting transactions that were previously deemed lawful, thereby undermining business confidence.
The analysis of bill S. 4434, aimed at amending the Clayton Act for divestiture of certain transactions, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the bill's subject matter and the sponsor Cory Booker's top donor industries. While there is some lobbying activity in related policy areas, the disclosed amounts are minimal, with the only specific financial contribution being $7,500 from SANA HEALTH. This indicates a low risk of conflict as the primary financial interests do not align closely with the legislative intent of the bill. Voters should be aware that while lobbying exists, the lack of significant financial ties to the bill's focus suggests that the sponsor is not beholden to specific industry interests in this case.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SANA HEALTH | TERRAPIN STRATEGY, INC | $7,500 |
| VICTIMS OF TERRORISM - EAST AFRICA | MR. RONALD COLEMAN | undisclosed |
| VENUS AEROSPACE CORP. | VENUS AEROSPACE CORP. | undisclosed |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | THE CORMAC GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| SOIL CULTURE SOLUTIONS, LLC (D/B/A SOILCEA) | CORCORAN & ASSOCIATES, INC. DBA CORCORAN PARTNERS | undisclosed |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE | NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE | undisclosed |
| NEBRASKA RURAL GENERATION LLC | JABAL COMPANIES LLC | undisclosed |
| RHOBACK, INC. | ATLAS CROSSING LLC | undisclosed |
| GLOBAL MOBILE SOFTWARE LLC | TERRAPIN STRATEGY, INC | undisclosed |
| SUMAIR VIRANI | COZEN O'CONNOR PUBLIC STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
| NATIONAL STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS TRADE ASSOCIATION | COZEN O'CONNOR PUBLIC STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
| NUMERACLE, INC. | ACG ADVOCACY | undisclosed |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR CAPITAL FORMATION | AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR CAPITAL FORMATION | undisclosed |
| HUBBARD HOUSE RESTAURANT, LLC | COZEN O'CONNOR PUBLIC STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
| INTUIT INC., AND ITS ENTERPRISE MEMBERS | COZEN O'CONNOR PUBLIC STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Cory Booker, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
