McDonald Rivet, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bill to Keep Call Center Jobs in America and Protect Consumers

WASHINGTON— Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) recently introduced the bipartisan Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025. This bill, supported by Democrats and Republicans, will discourage companies from shipping call center jobs overseas, protect American jobs and consumers, and ensure quality service.

“Everyone knows the frustration of calling customer service and getting run through automated messages, when you need the help of a person,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “Shipping call centers overseas kills American jobs and causes headaches for consumers. Keeping call centers here at home is a commonsense step forward to make life better for American workers and customers.”

“When call center jobs are sent overseas, it weakens our economic security, erodes consumer protections, and removes jobs and investment from our communities,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. I’ve fought to keep American jobs here at home, and the Keep Call Centers in America Act makes sure we do—protecting U.S. workers, holding corporations accountable, and ensuring every American gets the accountability and quality service they deserve.”

“When companies cut corners, American workers get left behind. By preventing jobs from going overseas or being replaced by automation, this bill will save jobs in Michigan and across the country,” said Angie Miller, Mid-Michigan Area Labor Council President and Communications Workers of America Local 4108 member. “Thank you to Congresswoman McDonald Rivet for leading the fight to protect mid-Michigan jobs and workers.”

Call centers employ around three million customer service representatives in the United States, but companies are increasingly shipping those jobs overseas and replacing workers with automated phone and chatbot systems. As a result, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 150,000 U.S. call center jobs will be lost by 2033.

The Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 would:

• Require businesses to notify the Department of Labor (DOL) before relocating a call center overseas.
• Empower the DOL to keep a public list of employers that have relocated call center work overseas and make them ineligible for new federal grants and federally guaranteed loans.
• Direct agencies to give preference to U.S. employers that are not on the list when awarding contracts, and require that all call center work performed on federal contracts be conducted in the U.S.
• Require call center workers to tell customers where the call center is and/or whether artificial intelligence is being used. The worker is then required to transfer the customer to a call center in the U.S. if they request it.
• Require a DOL report on the amount of, and location of, federal call center work and the job losses associated with AI use.

Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Jim Justice (R-WV) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.