Political Quotes

“Madam President, pretty much every American has had to deal with illegal robocalls. How many times have you answered the phone only to discover it is an automated message saying that you have won a contest that you never entered or asking you to provide personal information like your bank account or Social Security number? Illegal robocalls, I think we can all agree, are a major nuisance, and too often they are not just a nuisance. Scammers use these calls to successfully prey on vulnerable populations like elderly Americans who are sometimes less technologically savvy. Scammers target the kind of personal information that can be used to steal your money and your identity, and when scammers are successful, the consequences for their victims can be devastating. Well, there are laws and fines in place right now to prevent scam artists from preying on Americans through the telephone. These measures have been insufficient. In many cases, robocall scammers simply build the current fines into the cost of doing business. On top of this, the Federal Communications Commission's enforcement efforts are hampered by a tight time window for pursuing violators. That is why I introduced the legislation before us today, the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or the TRACED Act, along with my fellow Commerce Committee member, Senator Markey. The TRACED Act provides tools to discourage illegal robocalls, protect consumers, and crack down on offenders.…”