Verizon Wireless Supports U.S. Rep. McCarthy In Effort To Ban Texting And E-Mailing While Driving

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) recently introduced The ALERT Driver's Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, which would effectively ban texting and e-mailing while driving. Rep. McCarthy's legislation, H.R. 3535, is co-sponsored by Reps. Robert A. Brady (D-PA), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Alan Grayson (D-FL), Eric J.J. Massa (D-NY) and Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL).

Verizon Senior Vice President of Federal Affairs Howard Woolley made the following statement:

"Verizon Wireless supports federal legislation to ban texting and e-mailing while driving. This is a natural extension of our previous breaks with other wireless companies to support state-wide legislation banning texting and e-mailing while driving. We applaud Congresswoman McCarthy and her House co-sponsors for their leadership on this important matter. Her efforts will help all consumers safely enjoy their wireless experience."

Verizon Wireless supports both federal and state legislation banning both texting and e-mailing while driving, including the companion ALERT Driver's Act when it was introduced in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Kay Hagan (D-NC) on July 29, 2009.

Verizon Wireless broke from the rest of its competitors in the U.S. wireless industry by supporting state-wide hands-free driving laws as early as 2000. Since then, Verizon Wireless has been the only wireless company supporting bans on texting and e-mailing while driving. Verizon Wireless' own policies require employees to use hands-free devices if they choose to talk on their mobile phones while driving and forbid texting and e-mailing while driving.

For more information on Verizon Wireless' responsible driving practices, please visit www.verizon.com/about/consumer-safety/overview.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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