U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have introduced the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the problem of unlawful robocalls originating from outside the United States. The legislation seeks to enhance collaboration between government agencies and private sector experts to develop strategies for combating overseas scams targeting Americans.
Senator Budd stated, “Robocalls from scammers aren’t just annoying, they victimize tens of millions of Americans, stealing billions of dollars from unsuspecting individuals. With many robocalls originating overseas, combining the efforts of government agencies in charge of protecting Americans from scams with private sector expertise will help us stay ahead of cutting-edge technologies used by foreign criminal enterprises. I am proud to join Sen. Welch to build on the important steps Congress has taken to curb these harmful robocalls, and better protect Americans from being preyed on by criminal enterprises across the globe.”
Senator Welch highlighted the impact in his state and nationwide: “Vermonters receive nearly 3.5 million robocalls every month. And it’s not only our state—folks in red and blue states alike are sick and tired of picking up the phone and wondering if they’re talking to a friend or being scammed. To make matters worse, foreign robocallers are stepping up their efforts to exploit and prey on vulnerable people. Our bipartisan bill will help combat unlawful foreign robocalls and protect Americans from scams.”
The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act has received endorsements from major organizations including AARP and USTelecom.
Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at AARP, said: “AARP, which advocates on behalf of more than 100 million Americans age 50 and older, is pleased to endorse the Foreign Robocall Elimination Act. This legislation represents a critical next step in protecting Americans from fraudulent and abusive robocalls originating from outside the United States. Older Americans are disproportionately targeted by robocall scams, which often lead to financial loss, identity theft, and emotional distress. These calls not only exploit individuals but also erode trust in telecommunications systems and public institutions. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds upon the TRACED Act and addresses this growing threat by convening a task force of government and private sector experts to develop actionable strategies for eliminating harmful foreign robocalls.”
Josh Bercu, Senior Vice President for Policy at USTelecom – The Broadband Association and Executive Director of The Industry Traceback Group, added: “Illegal robocalls are not just a nuisance—they’re a threat to vulnerable Americans and a tool for scammers around the world. Thanks to strong partnerships between the Industry Traceback Group and federal, state, and local law enforcement, we’ve made measurable progress in stopping these bad actors. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds on this success to empower industry and law enforcement to use what works to crack down on the bad actors overseas preying on Americans. Big thanks to Senators Budd and Welch for their leadership and commitment to consumer protection.”
The proposed act would create an interagency taskforce with representatives from agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice (DOJ), along with experts in voice services, telecommunications technology, marketing organizations, and consumer advocacy groups. This group would evaluate current trends in foreign robocalling activity while working toward increased international cooperation against illegal calls.
Additionally, under this legislation the FCC’s renewal period for authorizing work by the Industry Traceback Group would be extended from one year to three years—a move intended to support ongoing efforts begun under previous laws like the TRACED Act.
