Congress·In Committee·S. 1025

Congress Would Let FCC Sue to Collect Unpaid Robocall Penalties if Justice Department Doesn’t Act

FCC Legal Enforcement Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Senators introduce a bill creating criminal penalties of up to three years in pr

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

Lets the FCC sue on its own to collect certain unpaid penalties tied to illegal robocalls, if the Justice Department doesn’t act.
Creates a 120-day window after the FCC asks the Attorney General to collect an unpaid penalty; after that, the FCC can take the case itself.
Tells the FCC to focus first on the largest unpaid robocall-related penalties, especially those over $25,000,000.
Updates the FCC’s rulemaking power to allow rules it believes are needed to protect people from unwanted calls.
For everyday phone users, the main goal is faster and tougher collection against big violators, which could discourage future robocalls.

Consumer ProtectionTelecommunications

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(3)

Small Business Owner

Neutral

Gig Worker

Neutral

Federal Employee

Neutral

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Mar 13, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mar 13, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law and takes effect

FCC begins using the new 120-day clock before it can sue to collect certain unpaid robocall-related fines

If the Justice Department doesn’t start a collection case within 120 days after a referral, the FCC can file the lawsuit itself, which can speed up collection attempts against major robocallers

After the bill becomes law and FCC updates its enforcement priorities

FCC prioritizes collection actions for unpaid robocall fines over $25,000,000

The biggest alleged robocall operations are more likely to face fast follow-up, court action, and pressure to pay, which can deter large-scale repeat offenders

Related News

2 articles

Gryphon AI·12 months ago

Proposed Senate Bill Gives FCC Power to Collect TCPA Fines

Notes introduction of S.1025 (FCC Legal Enforcement Act) and summarizes the bill’s change allowing FCC to litigate unpaid TCPA forfeitures if DOJ doesn’t act within 120 days; mentions $25M prioritization.

Senator Ben Ray Luján (Press Release)·about 1 year ago

Luján Reintroduces Legislation to Crack Down on Robocalls, Protect Americans From Scams

Announcement and description of the FCC Legal Enforcement Act: creates a 120-day DOJ window before FCC can sue to collect TCPA penalties; argues this speeds collection and deters robocall violators.