Thanks to Billy Tauzin, you'll never have to worry about spam clogging your inbox again! Just kidding. According to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin, the House and the Senate have reached a compromise in their latest attempt to squash spam.

While the early details of the legislation are sketchy, it would deliver millions in fines and a maximum of five years in prison to spammers who utilize misleading headers. The legislation would also supersede state-level legislation like bills recently passed in California and Virginia, and force legit mass mailers to always include the ability to "opt-out" of marketing material.

It's expected to go up for a vote in the House by Friday, then head to the Senate, where it's expected to pass. Both the House and Senate have been busy working on a spam solution; tasking themselves with having anti-spam legislation on the desk of the President before year's end.

"For the first time during the Internet-era, American consumers will have the ability to say no to SPAM. What's more, parents will be able to breath easier knowing that they have the ability to prevent pornographic SPAM from reaching defenseless, unsuspecting children," said Chairman Tauzin in a press release this afternoon. It's not specified how exactly the bill intends to accomplish this.

"Although the Internet has given us abilities beyond our wildest dreams, it has also produced endless headaches with all of the crippling congestion SPAM causes to computers every day throughout this country. Today's agreement could end all of that nonsense and bring peace of mind back to everyone who sends and receives e-mail."

Sure thing. Provided you can find them. Provided they aren't hidden in the bowels of a country that laughs at U.S. legal guidelines. What the law does seem to do is establish a baseline standard for legitimate business spam, an idea many fear will only create legal support for corporations looking to add yet more spam to the tidal wave.

The legislation also allows the FTC to launch a "do not spam" registry, similar to the idea proposed by NY Senator Charles Schumer. Apparently neither Schumer or Tauzin realize that such a list, (after being obtained by "legit" e-mailers to let them know who not to mail) would quickly be sold out the back door to any spammer with $500 in his pocket; only serving to make the spam problem worse.

The Energy and Commerce website has additional detail, though it primarily lists what the legislation promises, not necessarily how it aims to go about supporting those promises.