Bart backs metal theft bill

NEWS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN BART STUPAK 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

CONGRESSMAN LEE TERRY 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA

U.S. SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR

U.S. SENATOR ORRIN HATCH

************************* Bipartisan bill would crack down on metal theft

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressmen Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.) were joined by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in introducing bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate that would make it easier for law enforcement officials to investigate the rapidly growing crime of metal theft.

The Metal Theft Prevention Act (H.R. 1006 / S. 418) would help law enforcement agencies catch metal thieves.

The rise in the value of metal has made it an attractive target for theft.

Law enforcement agencies around the country have seen metal stolen from utility substation transformers, utility poles, railroad signaling wire, telecommunications networks and foreclosed homes.

The stolen metal is sold to scrap metal yards for cash.

These thefts interrupt important services by cutting off power supply to homes and buildings and disrupting critical 911 emergency phone services.

“Metal thefts are causing power outages, downing phone lines, disrupting the delivery of products and costing businesses and homeowners billions of dollars a year,” said Stupak, co-chairman of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus. “Many states, including Michigan, have passed laws in an effort to curtail metal theft. But a patchwork of state laws is not doing enough to help investigators prevent and solve these crimes.”

“Metal theft is a serious problem with dangerous consequences, especially for homeowners,” said Klobuchar. “In Minnesota, we’ve seen entire homes explode from natural gas leaks caused by stolen copper pipes.”

“Scrap metal theft is a growing and dangerous problem in our society,” Terry said. “The high price for copper and aluminum is pushing crooks to steal metal of any kind at any cost for quick cash. This practice must be stopped and this bill will greatly deter people from profiting from stolen metal.”

“We simply must ensure that the nation’s businesses, homes and infrastructure are no longer viewed as a treasure trove by desperate metal thieves,” Hatch said. “It is all the more critical considering the dire economic straits our country is in now. Americans need to be secure in their property. This bill would do that by establishing a federal baseline from which all states must operate. This is important because many states across the nation now lack laws governing metal theft and tend to attract thieves as a result. Of course, this bill does not preclude states from enacting their own laws.”

The Metal Theft Prevention Act would require scrap metal dealers to document their metal transactions and would prohibit cash transactions of more than $75 for scrap metal, making it more difficult to profit from stolen metal.

Scrap metal dealers would face civil penalties of up to $10,000 for failing to document transactions.

The bill is supported by the Coalition against Copper Theft, which includes the American Public Power Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, National Association of Home Builders, National Retail Federation, Association of American Railroads and United States Telecommunications Association.

“As metal theft continues to plague the country, the Coalition Against Copper Theft thanks Representatives Stupak and Terry, as well as Senators Klobuchar and Hatch, for their leadership in introducing legislation to fight this indefensible crime,” said Bryan Jacobs, executive director of the Coalition. “People across the country are falling victim to thieves stealing everything from manhole covers to home plumbing systems.

"In this economy criminals are finding it easy to make a living pulling copper wiring out of electric substations, cell towers, and foreclosed homes and then selling the ill-gotten gains at their local scrap yard. This bill will make it harder for thieves to turn their crimes into cash. The Coalition applauds the effort of Congress and looks forward to working with these thoughtful legislators to enact this important bill.”

H.R. 1006 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, on which Stupak and Terry serve.

Klobuchar serves on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over S. 418.

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