WASHINGTON – President Bush signed legislation Tuesday meant to stem the flood of unwanted e-mail pitches, a problem he believes is hurting the economy.
“Spam, or unsolicited e-mails are annoying to consumers and costly to our economy,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said after Bush signed the bill. “This will help address the problems associated with the rapid growth and abuse of spam by establishing a framework of technological, administrative civil and criminal tools, and by providing consumers with options to reduce the volume of unwanted e-mail.”
The bill was among seven Bush was signing during the day, measures that will also help needy families buy their first homes and give flight attendants lessons in self-defense.
In the Oval Office on Tuesday morning, Bush signed the so-called “can spam” legislation, which outlaws the persistent techniques used by e-mailers who send tens of millions of messages each day to peddle their products and services.
The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Conrad Burns, R-Mont., passed the Senate last month and the House last week.
“Kingpin spammers will now face tough rules and harsh consequences for sending unwanted, offensive e-mails to unwilling recipients. Swift and aggressive enforcement will be essential,” Wyden said in a statement.
“In a country with an ever-increasing reliance on the Internet, I am glad to know that today marks a day where Americans will begin to have some muscle against the spammers out there who flood their inboxes each day,” said Burns.
The bill supplants anti-spam laws already passed in some states, including California. It also encourages the Federal Trade Commission to create a do-not-spam list of e-mail addresses and includes penalties for spammers of up to five years in prison in rare circumstances.
In the afternoon, the president was to go to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to sign the American Dream Downpayment Act. It is aimed at helping families that can afford monthly mortgage payments but not the initial costs associated with buying a house.
Three-fourths of non-minority Americans own their own homes, but less than half of blacks, Hispanics and other minorities are homeowners. Through grants to state and local governments, low-income families would receive an average of about $5,000 to be help cover downpayment and closing costs on a first home.
Associated Press Writer Matthew Daly contributed to this story.
Copyright ©2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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