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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 581 (109th)

Free Flow of Information Act of 2005

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

2 February 2005

Last action

14 March 2006 · Introduced

Status

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H877-878)

Sponsors

Rep. Pence, Mike [R-IN-6], Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9], Rep. Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2], Rep. Spratt, John M., Jr. [D-SC-5], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16], Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25], Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ], Rep. Emanuel, Rahm [D-IL-5], Rescom. Fortuno, Luis G. [R-PR-At Large], Rep. Ryan, Paul [R-WI-1], Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Lewis, Ron [R-KY-2], Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5], Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6], Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM], Rep. Wilson, Heather [R-NM-1], Rep. LaHood, Ray [R-IL-18], Rep. Brady, Kevin [R-TX-8], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jenkins, William L. [R-TN-1], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11], Rep. Davis, Tom [R-VA-11], Rep. Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. [R-FL-22], Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD-At Large], Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Rep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2], Rep. Beauprez, Bob [R-CO-7], Rep. Etheridge, Bob [D-NC-2], Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Rep. Pastor, Ed [D-AZ-4], Rep. Millender-McDonald, Juanita [D-CA-37], Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-24], Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4], Rep. Davis, Lincoln [D-TN-4], Rep. Carson, Julia [D-IN-7], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2], Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

5 December 2025

Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Free Flow of Information Act of 2005 - Prohibits Federal entities from compelling covered persons (specified media outlets or their employees) to testify or produce any document unless a court determines by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) the entity has unsuccessfully attempted to obtain such testimony or document from all non-covered persons; and (2) in a criminal matter, based on information from a non-covered person, there are reasonable grounds to believe a crime has occurred and the testimony or document is essential to the investigation, prosecution, or defense; or (3) in a non-criminal matter, based on information from a non-covered person, the testimony or document is essential to a dispositive issue of substantial importance. Requires the content of compelled testimony or documents to be: (1) limited to the purpose of verifying published information; and (2) narrowly tailored in subject matter and time period covered. Excludes certain commercial or financial information from coverage under this Act. Prohibits compelled disclosure, notwithstanding this Act's conditions for such disclosure, of: (1) the identity of a confidential source; or (2) information reasonably expected to lead to the discovery of such identity. Makes this Act applicable to testimony or documents sought from third parties that are related to business transactions with covered persons. Authorizes compelled disclosure in such cases only where the covered person has received notice and an opportunity to be heard. States that publication or dissemination of testimony or documents does not waive the requirements for compelled disclosure set forth in this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 2 February 2005

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 2 February 2005

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H290-291)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 2 February 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 2 February 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 15 February 2005

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H592-593)

    Source: IntroReferral

  6. 14 March 2006

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H877-878)

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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Leesvertaling

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 2 February 2005

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 2 February 2005

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 2 February 2005

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 56 sponsors and actors.

Related records

Sources

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