Hartford (AP) - U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is set to unveil legislation that would expand protections offered to gift card consumers, taking a crusade he launched as state attorney general to the upper chamber of Congress.

Blumenthal on Monday will introduce the Gift Card Consumer Protection Act to ban gift cards with expiration dates and fees for failing to use them after one year.

The bill also would prevent companies that file for bankruptcy from selling gift cards and would require them to accept and honor unredeemed gift cards.

The Democrat says the measure will eliminate "exploitative expiration dates and petty, underhanded junk fees" that confiscate cash from consumers.

The bill also would prevent loyalty, promotion and award cards from expiring.