NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Committee Approves Consumer Protection Legislation

Bills Include Extension of Do-Not-Call Registry, Provision of Funds for Internet Safety Campaign, Tighter Controls on Financial Dealings

Washington, D.C. – The Committee on Energy and Commerce approved four bipartisan consumer protection bills today by voice vote in a full committee markup session. The bills were approved by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection last week.

“Each of the bills approved by our committee this afternoon covers an important aspect of consumer protection legislation,” said Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “I look forward to House votes on these collaborative bills, which pave the way for extending the Do-Not-Call registry, educating children from dangers lurking on the Internet, and protecting consumers from deceptive banking practices.”

The four bills include the following:

• H.R. 2601, a bill to extend the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collect fees to administer and enforce ‘Do-Not-Call’ registry of the Telemarketing Sales Rule through 2012;
  
  
• H.R. 3541, the “Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007;” to amend the `Do-Not-Call' Implementation Act to eliminate the automatic removal of telephone numbers registered on the Federal `Do-Not-Call' registry.
  
  
• H.R. 3461, the “Safeguarding America’s Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act of 2007”, which will provide $5 million to the FTC for an Internet safety campaign aimed at children and teenagers; and
  
  
• H.R. 3526, a bill to include all banking agencies within the existing regulatory authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act with respect to depository institutions, and for other purposes.

“I’m pleased that in a strong spirit of bi-partisan cooperation, our committee was able to advance to the full committee, today, several bills designed to strengthen consumer security and awareness,” said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. “Safeguarding consumers’ financial interests, increased Internet security and providing the resources to ensure that the Do-Not-Call Registry has the budget it needs to ensure that unwanted phone solicitations remain at bay is what the American public has come to expect. I’m working hard to ensure that a vast majority of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, agree.”

“The national Do-Not-Call Registry has given Americans the opportunity to tell telemarketers ‘Don’t call us, we’ll call you,’” said Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), sponsor of H.R. 3541. “Most folks who’ve signed up with the registry don’t even realize that their names will be automatically removed after five years. I don’t think they should even have to worry about it. My bill will give 150 million Americans a little much-needed peace and quiet,” Congressman Doyle added. “It takes one more hassle off their plate.”

“For millions of Americans, the national Do-Not-Call list offers shelter from constant and annoying telephone calls,” said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection and the sponsor of H.R. 2601. “There is no question that this list is an effective measure protecting us from unwanted telephone solicitations. I am grateful for the strong, bipartisan support for my bill to reauthorize the Do-Not-Call list.”

Lydia Parnes, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC, provided testimony at a hearing last week in support of the three proposed consumer protection bills. “Simply put, the Commission is enormously pleased with the effectiveness of the Do-Not-Call program and how it has helped restore the sanctity of the American dinner hour, and remains committed to strongly sanctioning those who have failed to abide by the Do-Not-Call rules,” she said.

The bills are now reported to the full House for consideration. For more information, please visit http://energycommerce.house.gov.

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