[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 199 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7015-S7016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PALLONE-THUNE TRACED ACT

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, every American has had to deal with 
annoying and illegal robocalls. All of us have been interrupted at one 
time or another by a robocall's announcing ``You have won a prize'' or 
claiming to need important banking information so that our accounts 
will not be closed. These calls are a major nuisance. Of course, they 
are not just a nuisance. Too many Americans fall victim to 
sophisticated robocall scammers and have their money or identities 
stolen. These individuals spend months or years struggling to get their 
lives back after falling prey to these scammers.
  There are currently laws and fines in place to prevent scam artists 
from preying on people through the telephone. Unfortunately, these 
measures have not been sufficient. In many cases, robocall scammers 
simply build the current fines into the cost of doing business, and the 
Federal Communications Commission's enforcement efforts are hampered by 
a tight time window for pursuing violators.
  I have been working on this issue since my time as chairman of the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and at the end of 
last year, I introduced the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal 
Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or the TRACED Act, with my colleague 
Senator Markey.
  The Senate passed our bill in May, and last week our bill was passed 
by the House of Representatives. The TRACED Act provides tools to 
discourage illegal robocalls, protect consumers, crack down on 
offenders.
  Criminal prosecution of illegal robocallers can be difficult. 
Scammers are frequently based abroad and quickly shut down shop before 
authorities can get to them, but I believe we need to make sure there 
is a credible threat of criminal prosecution and prison for those who 
use robocalls to prey upon the elderly and other vulnerable Americans.
  The TRACED Act convenes a working group with representatives from the 
Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission, the 
Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau, State attorneys general, and others to 
identify ways to criminally prosecute illegal robocalling.
  In the meantime, it expands the window in which the FCC can pursue 
scammers and levy fines from 1 year to 4 years.
  The bill also makes it easier for your cell phone carrier to lawfully 
block calls that aren't properly authenticated, which will ultimately 
help stop scammers from getting through to your phone in the first 
place.
  The TRACED Act also tackles the issue of spoof calls, where scammers 
make the call appear as if it is coming from some known number.
  I remember an article from my home State a couple of years ago that 
reported that scammers had successfully spoofed the number of the 
Watertown Police Department. To anyone who received a call, it looked 
as if it really was the Watertown Police Department calling.
  The TRACED Act also addresses the issue of so-called one-ring scams, 
where international scammers try to get individuals to return their 
calls so they can charge them exorbitant fees, and it directs the 
Federal Communications Commission to convene a working group to address 
the problem of illegal robocalls being made to hospitals.
  There are numerous stories of hospital telephone lines being flooded 
with robocalls, disrupting critical lines of communication, literally, 
for hours. This can't be allowed to go on.
  I want to thank Senator Markey for partnering with me on the TRACED 
Act, and my House colleagues for advancing this legislation. I am proud 
of the bipartisan support our bill has received in both Houses of 
Congress.
  One last step remains before we can get this bill to the President's 
desk, and that is Senate passage of the final

[[Page S7016]]

bill. I am hoping we can get that done in the coming days so we can get 
this bill to the President before Christmas.
  While the TRACED Act may not eliminate all of the robocalls Americans 
receive, it will go a long way toward making it safe to answer your 
phone again.
  I look forward to seeing this legislation signed into law in the very 
near future.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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