[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JOE BARTON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2007

  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3541, the 
Do Not Call Improvement Act. The legislation is simply very 
straightforward and I believe merits the support of all Members.
  The bill removes the requirement for the Federal Trade Commission to 
remove consumers' phone numbers from the Registry. The original rules 
for the Registry required consumers to re-register their phone number 
every 5 years. This was intended to keep the list accurate over the 
years as numbers were disconnected and reassigned to new customers. The 
rules as they currently are would result in many millions of Americans 
being removed from the Do-Not-Call list each year, whether they like it 
or not. The bill before us changes these rules by requiring that 
numbers on the Registry remain there, so that people's dinners don't 
start getting interrupted by telemarketers all of a sudden. At the same 
time, we direct the FTC to keep the list accurate by periodically 
``scrubbing'' the list of invalid and disconnected numbers. I think 
this strikes the right balance for consumers and the industry.
  I urge support for the bill.

                          ____________________