A Senate committee plans a hearing next week on “questionable marketing” of sports equipment that's promoted as helping reduce the risk of concussions. Football helmet manufacturers such as Riddell have been criticized for claiming their helmets reduce concussions.

One senator, New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall, has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate what he calls “misleading safety claims and deceptive practices.”

Udall is on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation, which will hold the hearing next Wednesday. He's introduced legislation giving the industry nine months to come up with new standards that address concussion risks and the specific needs of young players.

The bill would make it a crime to sell any sporting equipment that makes false or misleading claims about safety benefits.