Bart Stupak: “I am pleased that Chairman Tauzin and Ranking Member Dingell have moved so quickly to address this week's decision by…”

“I am pleased that Chairman Tauzin and Ranking Member Dingell have moved so quickly to address this week's decision by the Federal district court in Oklahoma that the FTC did not have authority to implement the national Do Not Call list. It is not often that we can move forward with such speed in a bipartisan manner in both bodies, but this action only proves that Congress intends this list to go into effect, despite what Judge West in Oklahoma may think. This list was to have gone into effect on October 1, and millions of consumers were looking forward to getting some relief from telemarketers. I am somewhat amazed by the decision of the court, given that Congress clearly expressed its intent to provide the FTC with the authority to implement the list by passing the Do Not Call Implementation Act. I do not know how much more clear we could have been--we gave the agency funding to set up the list, but yet the court managed to find that no authority existed from Congress. This bill will make things clear, and I am pleased at this quick response to the ruling. I am a cosponsor of this bill and look forward to its quick passage.”