Especially if they're offering favors or food or visits to their rooms.

The effect of these calls was pernicious and intrusive.

You cannot selectively invoke a Fifth Amendment privilege. You can't decide to answer some questions and then decide you don't want to answer other questions about the same activities involving the same legal culpability.

I take it the three of you would support the ROBOCOP bill that I've introduced that would require phone companies to provide more effective tools.

Isn't it a fact they caused harm to consumers?

The simple fact is that the Do Not Call list is totally ineffectual against them.

What is shocking to me is not only that this kind of predatory abuse happened, but that it is ongoing.

The FCC has also alleged that these calls were harmful to carriers.

I have heard from many of my constituents, like many members of this panel, about the intrusive and invasive effect of these calls.

The faces and voices that we're going to see and hear today give new meaning to the word 'courage' and 'sacrifice.'

And I just want to thank all of you for being here today and we look forward to continuing this conversation.

In January, Senator Blumenthal and I launched a bipartisan subcommittee investigation to examine cultural and systemic problems regarding abuse.

As lawmakers, we must make sure that these institutions are accountable, and that they vigorously and swiftly implement the legislation that Congress has enacted.

I again would like to thank both Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Blumenthal for their continued work on this issue and for holding this hearing.

If the Do Not Call Registry is working, why do I receive hundreds, maybe thousands of calls, from my constituents saying, 'I'm on the Do Not Call list, but I'm continuing to receive calls'?

I am introducing the ROBOCOP bill, Repeated Objectionable Bothering of Consumers on Phones Act.

Just an observation. Mr. Rupy, I appreciate your citing a holistic approach and the services that are now available.

I think that's a very, very important commitment, as is the commitment which I hope that you share to investigating and stopping all sexual assault.

there is a need for multiple icebreakers to maintain a year-round presence in the high latitudes.

Will you commit to scrutinize and make sure that there are no credible claims of discrimination at the Coast Guard Academy?

I hope that you will sustain and enhance the commitment of the Coast Guard to the museum.

the U.S. needs to pay attention to what's going on in the Arctic.

compared to the Russians, we are at a severe disadvantage in the Arctic. We have two icebreakers there. They have 40, with another 11 in development.

We are strongly committed to do anything and everything to make that museum a reality.

That is unacceptable that FEMA has not reimbursed them.