Bipartisan lawmakers have introduced legislation to curb the offshoring of U.S. call center jobs.
Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet, Michigan Democrat, and Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania Republican, unveiled the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 on Thursday.
“Shipping call centers overseas kills American jobs and causes headaches for consumers,” Ms. McDonald Rivet said. “Keeping call centers here at home is a common-sense step forward to make life better for American workers and customers.”
Mr. Fitzpatrick said the practice “weakens our economic security, erodes consumer protections, and removes jobs and investment from our communities.”
The bill would require companies to notify the Labor Department before relocating call centers abroad, make such employers ineligible for certain federal funds, and ensure callers can request U.S.-based service. It also addresses AI use in customer service.
Senators Ruben Gallego, Arizona Democrat, and Jim Justice, West Virginia Republican, have introduced a companion bill. “When folks pick up the phone and ask for help, they shouldn’t have to deal with AI robots or be routed to someone across the world,” Mr. Justice said.