MEASURE WOULD PERMANENTLY FUND AND AUTHORIZE DO-NOT-CALL LIST PROTECTING CONSUMERS FROM UNWANTED PHONE CALLS

Washington, Oct 30, 2007 - "I helped establish the national Do-Not-Call list in 2003 that protects the public from unwanted calls from telemarketers," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Ranking Member of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee. "People want to feel secure in their homes, including being protected from unsolicited telephone calls. Although the authorization for the Do-Not-Call law has expired, I am confident that the House will approve my bill reauthorizing the Do-Not-Call list."

The House Energy & Commerce Committee today approved Stearns' bill, H.R. 2601, the Do Not Call Registry Fee Extension Act. The next step is consideration by the full House. H.R. 2601 would reauthorize permanently the law and the collection of fees to support it. Under the law, the Federal Trade Commission maintains the list of home phone numbers of consumers who opted to register their number. Telemarketers then pay a fee to access the list to know which number they cannot call.