[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 136 (Wednesday, December 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       U.S. SAFE WEB ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JOE BARTON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2006

  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1608, the 
``Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers 
Beyond Borders Act'', also known as the SAFE WEB Act. Mr. Speaker, my 
Committee dealt with this issue in the 108th Congress because it is a 
growing problem. The issue is important because fraud perpetrated 
against our citizens increasingly originates or is committed outside 
the United States: the Federal Trade Commission reports 20 percent of 
the complaints it received are ``cross-border'' fraud complaints. Under 
current law, there is little the FTC can do to stop or prosecute a 
perpetrator outside the United States.
  The Safe Web Act will make two significant changes to help stop the 
fraud and protect consumers. First, it amends the FTC Act definition of 
``unfair or deceptive acts or practices'' to include acts or practices 
involving foreign commerce. Second, it allows the FTC to share 
information and cooperate with foreign governments to investigate and 
take action on fraud complaints consistent with existing law 
enforcement practices.
  I am pleased to see that S. 1608 reflects and codifies the 
interagency agreement reached in 2004. We have an amendment that will 
make a few minor changes to S. 1608. The Amendment strikes the 
findings, eliminates the gift provision to the FTC, and sunsets the 
legislation after 7 years.
  This is good consumer protection legislation and will help law 
enforcement agencies find and prosecute criminals outside our borders 
committing fraud against our citizens.
  I would like to thank FTC Chairwoman Majoras as well as Jeanne Bumpus 
at the FTC for their efforts to help make this legislation a law.
  I urge my colleagues to pass the bill so we can continue to protect 
consumers and prosecute criminals.

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