NEWS RELEASE

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

Committee Approves Legislation to Promote U.S. Tourism, Combat Fraudulent Calling Cards, and Encourage Breast Cancer and Environmental Research

Washington, D.C. – The Committee on Energy and Commerce today completed a markup of legislation that would promote tourism to the United States, protect consumers from purchasing fraudulent calling cards, and establish research centers to study how environmental factors may be linked to breast cancer. Three bills (H.R. 3232, H.R. 3402, and H.R. 1157) were approved by voice vote and will be forwarded to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

“I applaud my colleagues for working in a bipartisan manner on these important bills,” said Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “Improving foreign perceptions of our country and protecting consumers from deceptive and abusive marketing practices are critical to restoring our international reputation and strengthening consumer confidence. Additionally, we created the ability for researchers to outline key knowledge gaps in the interactions between the environment and the occurrence of breast cancer.”

H.R. 3232, the “Travel Promotion Act of 2007,” sponsored by Rep. William D. Delahunt (D-MA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), would create a non-profit corporation to encourage U.S. travel. The Corporation for Travel Promotion would provide useful information to international travelers, as well as identify and address perceptions in other countries regarding U.S. entry policies. A Manager’s Amendment offered by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, was agreed to by voice vote.

H.R. 3402, the “The Calling Card Consumer Protection Act,” sponsored by Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), along with original co-sponsors Reps. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) and Ed Towns (D-NY), would protect consumers who purchase calling cards by combating widespread abusive and deceptive marketing practices, such as hidden charges and incorrect advertising of the number of calling minutes on a card. It requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of all fees, minutes, and limitations on prepaid calling cards and services. Additionally, it provides for enforcement by State attorneys general and public utility commissions and authorizes the FTC to enforce violations and penalties.

Additionally, it makes certain marketing practices illegal and authorizes the FTC to enforce violations and penalties.

An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute was offered by Schakowsky was agreed to by voice vote.

H.R. 1157, the “Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007,” which was introduced on February 16, 2007, by Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Sue Myrick (R-NC). This bipartisan bill would authorize the Director of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers for the study of environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute was offered by Myrick was agreed to by voice vote.

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