[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4121]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     DO-NOT-CALL IMPLEMENTATION ACT

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                               speech of

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday February 12, 2003

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, as someone who has, my share of insolicited 
telemarketing calls, I sympahize fully with the concerns of the 
sponsors of the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act (HR 395). However, I 
would remind those who support federal intervention to ``put a stop'' 
to telemarketing on the basis of its annoyance, that the Constitution 
prohibits the federal government from interfering in the areas of 
advertising and communications.
  In addition to exceeding Congress' constitutional authority, 
legislation to regulate telemarketing would allow the government to 
intrude further into our personal lives. Our country's founders 
recognized the genius of severely limiting the role of government and 
reserving to the people extensive liberties, including the freedom to 
handle problems like this on the local level and through private 
institutions. The fact that the privately-run Direct Marketing 
Association is operating its own ``do-not-call'' list is evidence that 
consumers need not rely upon the national government to address the 
problems associated with telemarketers. Furthermore, many state public 
utility commissions have imposed regulations on telemarketers. Further 
regulation at the federal level will only result in a greater loss of 
liberty. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to take the constitutional 
course and oppose the Do-No-Call Implementation Act.

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