Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025
Summary
The Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 aims to prevent companies from relocating call center jobs overseas by imposing financial disincentives and requiring disclosures. It mandates the Secretary of Labor to maintain a public list of employers who relocate call centers or contract call center work overseas, making them ineligible for federal grants and guaranteed loans for up to five years. The Act also requires businesses to disclose the physical location of customer service agents and the use of AI in customer interactions, offering consumers the option to be transferred to a U.S.-based agent.
Expected Effects
The Act is likely to increase the cost of offshoring call center jobs, potentially leading to more call center jobs remaining in or returning to the United States. Consumers may experience greater transparency regarding the location and nature of customer service interactions. The act could also spur innovation in domestic call center operations and AI transparency.
Potential Benefits
- Increased job retention and creation in the United States.
- Greater transparency for consumers regarding the location of customer service agents.
- Potential for improved customer service experiences due to mandatory transfer options.
- Incentive for companies to invest in domestic call center infrastructure.
- Discourages the use of overseas labor by making it financially unattractive.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased operational costs for businesses, potentially leading to higher prices for consumers.
- Possible reduction in business competitiveness due to restrictions on global operations.
- Potential for companies to avoid compliance through loopholes or reclassification of work.
- The creation of a new government list and enforcement mechanisms could introduce bureaucratic overhead.
- May face challenges in enforcement and verification of compliance.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Act's alignment with the Constitution is primarily based on Congress's power to regulate commerce among the several states (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The Act aims to regulate business practices that affect domestic employment and consumer protection, which falls under the purview of interstate commerce. The required disclosures do not appear to infringe on free speech (Amendment I) as they relate to commercial activities and consumer information.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).