WASHINGTON, DC – Late yesterday, President Obama signed into law H.R. 6131, a bill to reauthorize the U.S. Safe Web Act of 2006.  Introduced by Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Ranking Member G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), H.R. 6131 extends the Safe Web Act, a key consumer protection law, until 2020.  “I am a strong supporter of granting the FTC the powers it needs to effectively protect consumers against fraud, whether originating here or abroad; so I joined Congresswoman Bono Mack in pushing the 7-year extension in this bill,” said Congressman Butterfield.  The reauthorization of the SAFE WEB Act gives the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expanded authority to combat cross-border fraud, spyware and spam attacks.  It also helps to protect against phony internet rip-offs and telemarketing scams.

“This is great news for every American who owns a credit card, shops online, or is online period,” Butterfield said.  “The enhanced authority, given by the passage of the original SAFE WEB Act during the 109th Congress, has empowered the FTC to better protect e-commerce and consumers from fraud through cross-border information sharing and coalition building with our foreign partners.  I am pleased the President signed our bill.”

The House approved H.R. 6131 in September.  The Senate passed the measure last month.

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