“I consistently hear from Ohioans who are targeted by foreign scammers and robocallers every single day, and I’m backing this bill to take action on their behalf.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Peter Welch’s (D-Vt.) Foreign Robocall Elimination Act. This bill would create a task force responsible for developing a strategy to combat foreign robocalls. It would also extend the renewal period for the critical Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) program, which works to track down the culprits of these scam calls.
This bill would bring together government and private sector experts to work with the Department of Justice to ensure that they are properly equipped to address and prosecute illicit robocalls.
“I consistently hear from Ohioans who are targeted by foreign scammers and robocallers every single day, and I’m backing this bill to take action on their behalf. Criminals prey on the most vulnerable, stealing savings and exploiting new technology to evade law enforcement. We cannot allow foreign criminal enterprises to continue victimizing Ohioans and families across the country. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to improve coordination, strengthen enforcement and deliver real consequences for foreign scammers,” said Husted.
“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,” said Budd.
“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,” said Welch.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and USTelecom endorse the bill.
“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,” said Bill Sweeney, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, AARP.
“Illegal robocalls can be more than a nuisance. They put vulnerable Americans at risk and serve as a gateway for scammers operating across the globe. Through strong collaboration between the Industry Traceback Group and federal, state, and local law enforcement, we have made real progress in holding these bad actors accountable. The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act builds on that momentum by strengthening the tools available to industry and law enforcement to stop overseas scammers targeting Americans. We’re grateful to Senators Husted, Budd, and Welch for their leadership and steadfast commitment to protecting consumers,” said Josh Bercu, Senior Vice President, Policy at USTelecom – The Broadband Association and Executive Director, The Industry Traceback Group.
This task force would evaluate foreign robocalls and determine the most effective strategies to combat them, with the goal of enhancing international cooperation to reduce illegal robocalls.
This support comes after Husted has consistently heard from Ohioans about the impact that robocalls have on their daily lives—most recently during one of his telephone town halls.
The Foreign Robocall Elimination Act passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Oct. 21, 2025.
Full text of the bill is available here.