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For Immediate Release
04/14/05
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Commerce Committee Approves “Junk Fax Prevention” Bill
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WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved by unanimous consent the “Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005” (S. 714) introduced by Senator Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) and co-sponsored by Senators Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), John Sununu (R-N.H.), Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).
The bill approved today:
- Establishes an exception to the general prohibition against the sending of unsolicited faxes without express consent for parties with an “established business relationship.”
- Establishes a requirement that persons sending unsolicited faxes pursuant to an “established business relationship” also provide consumers with a cost-free mechanism to opt-out of further faxes, and that notice of this mechanism be provided on each such fax in a clear and conspicuous manner.
- Permits the FCC to limit the duration of an “established relationship” consistent with reasonable consumer expectations and appropriate justification by the FCC.
- Requires the FCC to report annually regarding enforcement actions taken against senders of unsolicited fax advertisements.
- Requires the GAO to conduct a study analyzing enforcement actions conducted by the FCC and suggest whether any additional enforcement measures may be warranted.
The Committee unanimously accepted 2 amendments by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). The first amendment required that consumers be permitted to “opt-out” of receiving further faxes by contacting the sender at any time during the day. Previously, the bill had limited the "opt-out" requirement to regular business hours. The second amendment stipulated that the FCC can commence a proceeding to limit the duration of an “established business relationship” 3 months after enactment as opposed to the 18-month timeframe established in the bill.
The bill now proceeds to the full Senate for its consideration.
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| 28th - |
Senate Approves Several Nominees
- The Senate confirmed the following nominees, reported by the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this week, by unanimous consent.
Phyllis Scheinberg to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer
Joseph Boardman to be Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
Nancy Nord to be a Member of the Consumer Product Safety Commis...
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| 27th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Reports Five Nominees Out of Committee
- Senate Commerce Committee Co-Chairmen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) have announced that the Committee today reported out the following nominees enbloc by a vote of 22-0.
· Maria Cino to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation
· Phyllis Scheinberg to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer
· Josep...
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| 27th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Stevens Comments on NCTA’s Initiative on Parental Controls
- Responding to the National Cable & Telecommunications Association’s (NCTA) new initiative on cable’s parental controls, Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) credited NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow for trying to bring the industry together.
“I think it is a step in the right direction. It shows they’re thinking about the issues we’ve raised. I agree with...
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| 21st - |
Lott Wants Amtrak Bill Ready
for Senate Floor Action by Summer
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, scolded the Bush Administration Thursday for its “stunning” proposal to zero out Amtrak’s operating subsidy and said he expects to have a bipartisan Amtrak remedy ready to go to the Senate floor this summer.
Lott’s statements ca...
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| 20th - |
Lott to Chair Hearing on Amtrak’s Future
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, chairman of the U.S. Senate Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, will conduct a hearing Thursday morning on the future of America’s National Railroad Passenger Corporation – Amtrak.
Witnesses will include Jeffrey L. Rosen, General Counsel and Secretary’s Representative to the Amtrak Board; Ken...
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| 20th - |
Senator Hutchison Promises “Reinvigorated” NASA Subcommittee
- Chairs first Science and Space Subcommittee hearing on International Space Station
WASHINGTON – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), new Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science and Space, today promised a “reinvigorated” subcommittee as she presided over her first hearing as subcommittee chairman.
“You will see a reinvigorated...
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| 14th - |
Subcommittee Chairman Lott Praises Unanimous Commerce Approval of Surface Transportation Act
- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee, predicted today’s approval of the Surface Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2005 by the full Commerce, Transportation and Science Committee “will save countless lives and reduce injuries on the nation’s highways.”
Lott said he hopes t...
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| 14th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation
to Improve Ocean and Coastal Mapping
- WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved by unanimous consent the “Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act” (S. 364), introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and co-sponsored by Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Trent Lott (R-Miss.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Frank Lautenber...
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| 14th - |
current Press Release |
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| 14th - |
Commerce Committee Approves
Transportation Safety Legislation
- WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved by unanimous consent the Surface Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2005, offered by Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee Chairman Trent Lott (R-Miss) and Full Committee Co-Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).
This legislation includes four titles: Title I - Motor...
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| 13th - |
Senate Confirms Dr. Michael Griffin to be NASA Administrator
- At the request of Senate Commerce Committee Co-Chairmen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the United States Senate this evening unanimously approved the nomination of Dr. Michael Griffin to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Senators Stevens and Inouye planned to consider the nomination at the Commerce Committees mark-up on Thursday, A...
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