Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) released the following statement on committee passage of Chairman Frank Pallone’s (D-NJ) bipartisan Stopping Bad Robocalls (H.R. 3375) which includes Crist’s Spam Calls Task Force Act (H.R. 721). The legislation, which passed through the full House Committee on Energy and Commerce today by a vote of 49-0, is expected on the House floor in the coming weeks.

“Day and night, Americans are fighting an onslaught of spam calls that endanger their privacy and personal information. Spam calls are not just a nuisance, they are a technological tool used by bad actors to deceive and take advantage of millions of unsuspecting Americans,” said Crist. “I thank Chairman Pallone for his leadership on this issue, and I look forward to a House floor vote very soon to crack down on this scourge once and for all.”                    

Background on the Spam Calls Task Force Act:
The legislation directs the Attorney General to work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to convene an interagency working group with other federal and state agencies to address the following issues relating to spam calls:

• Determine if any Federal laws, regulations, or policies inhibit the enforcement of section of the Telephone Consumer Protections Act that prohibits spam/scam calls;
• Identify existing and potential policies and programs that encourage and improve coordination among departments, agencies, and states;
• Identify existing and potential international policies and programs;
• Consider if additional resources would be helpful;
• Consider if formal agreements between states and the federal government and/or foreign governments would be helpful; and
• Consider if increased criminal penalties or fines would serve as an increased deterrent.