Spam Calls Task Force Act of 2018
This bill requires the Department of Justice to assemble an interagency working group to study and report to Congress on the enforcement of the prohibition against certain robocalls. Specifically, the working group must look into how to better enforce against robocalls by examining issues such as the types of laws, policies, or constraints that could be inhibiting enforcement.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7370 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7370
To direct the Attorney General to convene an interagency working group
to study the enforcement of section 227(b) of the Communications Act of
1934.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 20, 2018
Mr. Crist (for himself and Mr. Graves of Louisiana) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Attorney General to convene an interagency working group
to study the enforcement of section 227(b) of the Communications Act of
1934.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Spam Calls Task Force Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General, in consultation with the
Federal Communications Commission, shall convene an interagency working
group to study the enforcement of section 227(b) of the Communications
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(b)).
(b) Duties.--In carrying out the study under subsection (a), the
interagency working group shall--
(1) determine whether, and if so how, any Federal law,
including regulations, policies, and practices, or budgetary or
jurisdictional constraints inhibit the enforcement of such
section;
(2) identify existing and potential Federal policies and
programs that encourage and improve coordination among Federal
departments and agencies and States, and between States, in the
enforcement and prevention of the violation of such section;
(3) identify existing and potential international policies
and programs that encourage and improve coordination between
countries in the enforcement and prevention of the violation of
such section (and laws of foreign countries prohibiting similar
conduct); and
(4) consider--
(A) the benefit and potential sources of additional
resources for the Federal enforcement and prevention of
the violation of such section;
(B) whether memoranda of understanding regarding
the enforcement and prevention of the violation of such
section should be established between--
(i) the States;
(ii) the States and the Federal Government;
and
(iii) the Federal Government and foreign
governments;
(C) whether a process should be established to
allow States to request Federal subpoenas from the
Federal Communications Commission with respect to the
enforcement of such section;
(D) whether increased criminal penalties for the
violation of such section (including increasing the
amount of fines and increasing the maximum term of
imprisonment that may be imposed to a period greater
than 2 years) are appropriate;
(E) whether regulation of any entity that enters
into a business arrangement with a carrier for the
specific purpose of carrying, routing, or transmitting
a call that constitutes a violation of such section
would assist in the successful enforcement and
prevention of the violation of such section; and
(F) the extent to which the prosecution of certain
violations of such section (which result in economic,
physical, or emotional harm) pursuant to any Department
of Justice policy may inhibit or otherwise interfere
with the prosecution of other violations of such
section.
(c) Members.--The interagency working group shall be composed of
such representatives of Federal departments and agencies as the
Attorney General considers appropriate, which may include--
(1) the Department of Commerce;
(2) the Department of State;
(3) the Department of Homeland Security;
(4) the Federal Communications Commission;
(5) the Federal Trade Commission; and
(6) the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
(d) Non-Federal Stakeholders.--In carrying out the study under
subsection (a), the interagency working group shall consult with such
non-Federal stakeholders as the Attorney General determines have
relevant expertise, including the National Association of Attorneys
General.
(e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 9 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the interagency working group shall submit
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Energy
and Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives a report on the findings of the study under subsection
(a), including--
(1) any recommendations regarding the enforcement and
prevention of the violation of such section; and
(2) a description of what process, if any, relevant Federal
departments and agencies have made in implementing the
recommendations under paragraph (1).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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