Congress Should Treat HR 2998 as they do... Telemarketing by Jan Ireland

Congress Should Treat HR 2998 as they do…Telemarketing

By Jan Ireland

October 06, 2003

Congressman Bill Young (R-Florida) informed his House colleagues early in September about certain Americans receiving bills for food they ate while they were in the hospital. That's not unusual on the surface, since we all expect a charge for hospital care. What makes it unusual, and unacceptable, is that the people receiving the bills are American service men and women. And they are leaving the hospital after being wounded in Iraq.

Staff Sergeant William Murwin, a Marine Corps reservist, was driving a HUMVEE in Iraq, when a ten year old boy tossed a grenade into his vehicle. SSgt. Murwin lost part of his foot. He was in the hospital for 26 days. He has recovered, and has now returned to his job as a sheriff's deputy in Nevada. Imagine his chagrin, however, when along comes a bill in the mail for $210.60. He has been charged for the food he ate, while he recovered in the hospital. I bet at least 50 million Americans are upset upon hearing that.

The Federal Trade Commission's national do not call registry was a smash hit from the moment it was announced. More than 700,000 signed up the first day. The phrase 'burning up the phone lines' took on new meaning. Americans could put their home phone numbers on that national registry, and expect a cessation of the telemarketing calls that often seemed to come at dinnertime - as if the originators hoped homeowners then would be tired enough to be persuaded. I bet at least 50 million Americans were happy about that list.

Their happiness took a detour when a federal judge voided the list, saying the FTC did not have the authority to initiate it. Congress moved as fast as five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on his bicycle. They met, wrote, voted, and passed legislation to give the FTC the authority it needed. And this happened virtually overnight. When 50 million Americans are clear about something, politicians listen. The 50 million Americans were very happy about that.

Breaking news at this writing has another federal judge, this one in Denver, stopping the list again. No doubt 50 million Americans will be upset when they hear this new twist. No doubt Congress will move with alacrity to placate angry phone owners who just want dinner in peace.

Congressman Young and his wife, Beverly, paid the bill for SSgt. Murwin. But other bills are following other American service men and women, and will continue to do so until Congress acts.

HR 2998, introduced by Representative Young, could be passed overnight if Congress really wanted to do it. We've seen what Congress can do when they know 50 million Americans want action.

I bet if 50 million Americans called their congressmen, and told them to support that bill that stops charging wounded American soldiers for the food they eat in the hospital - Congress would treat HR 2998 as they do…well, telemarketing. I bet it would pass overnight.

And I bet 50 million Americans would be very happy with their politicians if it did.