Stopping Spam Calls and Mail

Recent reports indicate that spam calls and mail have increased over the past several years. Last week, I joined my colleagues in introducing legislation aimed at reducing these unwanted solicitations and strengthening privacy protections for consumers.

When a homebuyer submits their information to a financial institution for a mortgage or home refinancing quote, their financial institution will perform a credit check. Although these credit checks are essential for evaluating financing options, they can generate a lead that is then sold by other companies, specifically a consumer's contact information and their request for home financing quotes, that vendors use to target potential customers. This transaction occurs without the individual's consent or knowledge that their personal information was given away. 

Reporting has highlighted that after these sales, consumers are often bombarded with calls, texts, or mail from vendors "claiming to work the lender" or offering products and services that the consumer had no intention of purchasing.

Current law does not require that consumers opt-in to these solicitations, nor do the existing opt-out regulations cover phone calls, meaning that consumers are left with few options to protect themselves from unwanted solicitations.

Families should be able to prevent their private information from being sold to unaffiliated vendors. This week, I joined my colleagues in introducing the Homebuyers Privacy Prevention Act, which would require that consumers opt-in to allowing third-party entities to sell their information through the credit reporting process and ensures that the existing loopholes enabling bad actors to spam homebuyers' phones and mailboxes with unwanted solicitations are removed.

Here to Help

My priority is to help you by cutting through the red tape and bureaucracy in Washington. I often hear from families in Wisconsin who have been experiencing delays and difficulty working with the VA, IRS, and other agencies and didn't know that my office can help. If you are having difficulty working with a federal agency or have an idea for a piece of legislation, please contact my office.

Here are just a few examples of how my office can assist you in working with the federal government.

• Experiencing a delay with the IRS? If you have not received a past tax return or are experiencing delays contacting the IRS involving an e-filed federal income tax return, visit my website to learn more about how we can help.

• Having trouble receiving your Social Security Payment? If you are not receiving your social security each month or have experienced issues with the Social Security Administration (SSA), please reach out to my office. My team will connect with the SSA to ensure you receive the benefits you have paid for. 

• Issue working with the VA? If you are a veteran having an issue working with the VA or receiving your benefits, contact us. My team will get to work securing the benefits you have fought for and earned in service to our country and has helped solve more than 230 different veterans and service member-related casework requests since 2024.

• Planning for international travel? Check your passport expiration date and apply to renew it if needed. Passport appointments are required. If you have difficulty scheduling an appointment or receiving a response from the State Department, contact us.

• Interested in a Congressional Commendation or Presidential Greeting? My office can work with you to help secure a Congressional Commendation or Presidential Greeting for residents of the 1st Congressional District. Whether it is an Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony, Election to Public Office, or other notable achievement, my staff is happy to work with you to secure recognition for these achievements.

• Looking for more information on Federal Grants and Domestic Assistance? My office can point you in the right direction and help you connect federal agencies that provide grant opportunities to qualified individuals or businesses. For more information, visit my website HERE.

• Traveling to D.C. for a visit our school trip? My office also assists Wisconsin families and school groups traveling to Washington D.C. with tours of the Capitol and other federal buildings. If you're planning a trip, contact my office for assistance. 

• Questions about what is going on in D.C.? My office is here to answer any questions you might have with what is going on in Congress, with a federal agency, or in a federal program. This year, my office has already responded to more than 81,326 phone calls, emails, and letters. If you ever have a question, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, want to share an opinion, or are having trouble with a federal agency.

On Wisconsin,

Bryan Steil
Member of Congress

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