WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S.
Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler joined her colleagues in introducing the
bipartisan Stopping
Bad Robocalls Act to control the onslaught of unwanted
robocalls.
“I’m helping introduce this legislation in response to the countless
complaints I’ve heard from Southwest Washington residents who are being
inundated by unlawful robocalls. They’re more than just a nuisance – these
calls frequently try to scam health care consumers, seniors and
others. From fraudulent Social Security threats, ‘free’ cruise gimmicks,
and other scam calls – it’s time we put a stop to these illegal robocalls,
placed consumers back in charge – and punished the fraudsters,” Herrera
Beutler said.
Problem and solution:
The
scourge of unlawful robocalls threatens the way consumers view and use their
telephones. Last year, an estimated 47.8 billion robocalls were placed nationwide, an
increase of 17 billion calls over the previous year. Illegal robocalls affect
American life in increasingly harmful ways, from scams to defraud consumers to disrupting our health care system.
The Stopping Bad Robocalls Act is a common-sense solution to put
consumers back in charge of their phones. This bill will implement a free,
nationwide caller authentication system so consumers can trust the number they
see on their caller ID is actually the person calling them.
H.R. 3375 also gives law enforcement and the Federal Communications Commission
critical tools, information, and incentives to go after robocallers that break
the law.
This bipartisan bill has over 200 cosponsors; the next stop will be a vote by
the full U.S. House.