WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 1999 -- Responding to a groundswell of consumer
complaints, Rep. Matt Salmon, an Arizona Republican, has introduced
legislation that would put tough new restrictions on telemarketers.
"People are tired of being solicited
over and over again. You can't get these people to stop
calling," Tom Puglia, Salmon's press secretary, told
ConsumerAffairs.Com.
Salmon's bill would ban all telemarketing
calls between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and would require that telemarketers
inform consumers that they have a right to be placed on a
"do-not-call" list.
It would also prohibit telemarketers from
blocking Caller ID.
Sslmon, a conservative Republican and
former telephone company executive, is not generally identified with
consumer issues. But Puglia said voters in Salmon's Phoenix-area
district have made it clear it's a "hot issue" with them.
"Arizona has the second highest
per-capita population of older people and they tend to be the targets of
many of these telemarketers," Puglia said.
The bill is similar to measures that have
been introduced in state legislatures around the country but would have
more teeth because it would apply nationwide.
"It's clearly appropriate for federal
legislation. Telemarketing involves interstate commerce, which
falls under Congress' jurisdiction," Puglia said. He noted
that the bill had bipartisan support. Co-sponsors include
Democrats James Oberstar (WI), Jay Inslee (WA) and Pete Stark (CA) and
Republicans Jack Metcalf (WA) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ).
The bill (HR 3180) has been referred to the
House Commerce Committee and will be taken up when Congress returns in
January.
Consumers who want to comment can email
Puglia at tom.puglia@mail.house.gov.
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