The Communications Workers of America will call north country constituents to thank Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, for signing on to legislation that its supporters say would boost call centers in the United States.

The 700,000-member union will give recipients of the call the option of connecting with Mr. Owens' office to thank a staffer personally.

Ah. The circle of telecommunications life.

The U.S. Call Center and Consumer Protection Act would prevent federal grants and loans from going to companies that "send U.S. call center jobs overseas," its main sponsor, U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop, D-N.Y., said.

Mr. Bishop says that the legislation would give call-center customers — think tech troubleshooting for your new computer — the right to be transferred to a U.S.-based call center.

The bill would help prevent identity theft, CWA says.

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